A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words (Visual Literacy Made Simple)

If a picture is worth a thousand words then imagine how we can enhance communication using images and words together to create visual content?

Knowledge and information can be accessed and transmitted through myriad print sources. For example, we can access information through newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, letters and other documents. We can also gain valuable knowledge, perspectives, and worldly understandings through other visual stimuli found in the media, such as pictoral representations found in company logos and traffic signs and messages transmitted through art, nature, and gestures.

The Literacy Dictionary defines visual literacy as “the ability to interpret and communicate with respect to visual symbols in media other than print” (Harris & Hodges, 1995).  This field of study outlines appropriate ways to bring visual literacy skills and strategies to students so that they are taught to “read the world” (Piazza, 1999).

A visually literate person should be able to

1. Interpret, understand and appreciate the meaning of visual messages;

2. Communicate more effectively by applying the basic principles and concepts of visual design;

3. Produce visual messages using computers and other technologies; and

4. Use visual thinking to conceptualize solutions to problems

If you want to learn more on visual literacy, you may read the book Harnessing the Power of Visual Literacy by Lynell Burmark