2019 Trends: Integrating clear visuals with plain language

Authors

Kate Harrison Whiteside, PlainLanguageAcademy.com and
​Michelle Boulton, 3CPublications.ca

Communication trends for 2019 strongly focus on visuals and clear communication. These are both key components of the plain language process. Committing to integrating clear visuals with plain text will help you succeed in meeting these new directions and your clients’ needs. Whether it’s headings, graphics or videos, 2019 is the year to use visuals to get your message across. 
 
Put people first
HR Trend Institutecites 2019 as the year for more listening and less messaging; more talking to each other; improved personalization; increased ability to act quickly; and, more visuals, less text. The focus is on connecting better with people and plain language puts people first.
 
Help readers skim 
Skimming is how today’s readers absorb information—in print and online. Previously, it was primarily the style of online readers only.  Check that your information provides visual cues to help readers find and re-find information easily and quickly, regardless of the media. Make this part of your 2019 plain language checklist.

Source: www.nih.gov/institutes-nih

            

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​Integrate clear visuals 
Plain language writing and editing are well-established processes for helping clients understand. However, ensuring visuals, design and layout contribute to clear information—in print and online—can be challenging. 
 
Michelle Boulton, Clear Communication Strategist at 3cpublications.ca, specializes in this field and shares advice.
 
In documents, visuals are often the elements that draw a reader in and make information easy to understand. Most people remember only 10% of what they hear and 30% of what they read, but about 80% of what they see. So, the combined use of visuals and text is said to be six times more effective than the use of text-based communication alone.
 
Visuals can express ideas and convey information in ways that words alone cannot. They communicate by:

• showing how things look (such as drawings, photographs, maps),
• representing numbers and quantities (such as tables and graphs),
• depicting relationships (such as flowcharts, schematic diagrams), and
• making abstract concepts and relationships concrete (such as organizational charts).

They also highlight the most important information and emphasize key concepts.
 
Get a clear picture of your audience’s needs. Use the power of visuals and text working together to send out clearer messages. Make 2019 your year to put people first.
 
Thanks Michelle. 3cpublications.ca
 
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