RE: Should writers develop their own illustrations?

["John Locke" <mail -at- freelock -dot- com>]

Kathi DeGuzman wrote:

>
> I have been a tech writer for over 10 years and have mixed feelings about
> whether "graphic content development" is an essential skill for writers.
> I admit that I have written manuals where I used illustrations to clarify
> information, showing how data moves in and out of a system, or something
> along those lines. I have been able to use clip art, and other tools to
> create these graphics. So, yes I have the ability to create the
> graphics. My
> problem is that I don't have the "creativity" needed to think up a Great
> graphic.
>
>[snip]
> nor am I an illustrative artist. I can do the basics, but that is all. If
> you want something more creative and dramatic, hire a
> professional artist --
> not a writer."
[snip]

I agree with most of Kathi's post (and the other posts), that being able to
work with designers to come up with effective graphics usually results in
the best product.

However, like Bruce, I'm a contractor, attempting to become a Jack-of-all
trades... And as the tools get better, most technical writing benefits from
good graphics. I've found the following two books very useful learning about
visual design:

1. Designing Infographics, by Eric K. Meyer, 1997 Hayden Press.

I found this book at a used bookstore, and I believe it's out of print. But
it goes into detail about how to think about graphics to make them
effective, and related to the content you're trying to portray. Meyer spends
a lot of time trying to define what makes a relevant graphic, and how
graphics can misrepresent information or mislead readers. He then details
how you would use Vector-based graphic programs (such as Illustrator,
Freehand, or Visio) to actually create the graphics. The quality of my Visio
graphs took an instant jump after going through this book.

2.  Visual Language, by Robert E. Horn, 1998 Macrovu.

This book, by the controversial Bob Horn (the originator of Information
Mapping TM), is a bewilderingly dense comic book that tries to make the
point that text-only information is not enough for communicating today's
ideas. Horn argues that instructions, ideas, and most other communication
are better expressed with visual imagery, and that desktop publishing has
liberated us from pure text...

I found Horn's book an attempt to raise a controversy over what is mostly
obvious. My biggest complaint about the book is that he uses way too much
clip art. But most of what's in there is already all around us, and the
other threads that described instructions as a series of pictures are
examples. But I do think the book is worth digging into, as it fairly
succinctly defines what words describe best, and give ideas for how to
present effective graphics.

Happy reading!

Cheers,
John Locke
http://www.freelock.com


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