Visual Information and Media Literacy

Purpose of Visual Information

• Captures attention and engages the audience
• Creates meaning through the use of visuals
• Facilitates retention of information for better understanding

Key Elements of Visual Design

• Line

  • Defines shapes or outlines within a composition
  • Can vary in thickness and create texture
  • Types: Actual, implied, vertical, horizontal, diagonal, contour

• Shape

  • Represents geometric or organic areas distinct from surrounding space
  • Differentiated by value, color, or texture contrasts

• Value

  • Refers to the lightness or darkness within a design
  • Importance of contrast between black, white, and intermediate tones

• Texture

  • Indicates how a surface feels or is perceived to feel
  • Creates illusions of smoothness or roughness through visual peaks and valleys

• Color

  • Defined by hue (color name), intensity (purity), and value (lightness or darkness)
  • Used strategically for emphasis or to evoke emotions

• Form

  • Represents figures with volume and thickness, appearing three-dimensional
  • Can be implied using light and shading techniques

Goals for Learners

• Define the concepts of visual information and visual media
• Understand the purpose and significance of visual media in communication
• Describe types, formats, and dimensions of visual information and media
• Discuss the fundamental elements of visual design
• Comprehend the production, organization, and dissemination of visual information
• Evaluate the reliability and validity of visual sources using established criteria

Examples of Visual Media

• Photography captures moments and tells stories through imagery
• Screenshots document visual content from screens
• Infographics combine graphics and data for clear presentation
• Data Visualization includes charts and graphs that represent data visually
• Comic strips and cartoons convey narratives with humor or moral lessons
• Memes leverage cultural references and humor for communication

Visual Storytelling

• Involves combining narrative and visual elements to engage audiences
• Creating a graphic novel includes elements like character development and story arcs
• Prompts for reflection include identifying the story, main character, and character traits based on context provided.