How do you communicate research findings visually?

Visual communication is a powerful way to share your research findings with your audience, whether it is a report, a presentation, or a publication. But how do you choose the right format, design, and tools to convey your message effectively and accurately? In this article, you will learn some basic principles and tips to communicate your research findings visually, using charts, graphs, diagrams, infographics, and other visual aids.

Key takeaways from this article

Engage with visual aids:

Use tools like Canva or Google Charts to create infographics that blend data and graphics appealingly. This makes your research findings more engaging and easier to understand for diverse audiences.### *Design with purpose:Choose colors, shapes, and fonts thoughtfully to highlight key information without overwhelming the viewer. A well-designed visual presentation emphasizes important data and maintains audience focus on your main message.

This summary is powered by AI and these experts

1 Why use visual communication?

Visual communication can be an effective tool when presenting your research findings, as it can attract attention and interest, simplify complex or abstract concepts, highlight patterns and trends, compare or contrast data or ideas, emphasize key points or conclusions, and enhance credibility and professionalism. Additionally, visual communication can appeal to different learning styles and preferences, making your research more memorable and engaging.

Add your perspective

Ruchi Shukla

ACAMS-CTMA ||(CSC®)|| Financial Advisor, AML, KYC, Transaction Monitoring & Compliance||Finance and Banking
Report contribution
In addition to this, Visual Communication boosts engagement and evokes stronger emotions from the targeted research audience. It is an artistic medium to represent and capture a reality of various informations. Lastly, it act as a bridge to help poeple land the different visual world to understand the concepts and enhance the excitement with creative thinking and imagination boost!

Like
Sasha Davis

Co-Founder of First Light Pictures | Film Producer | 1st Assistant Director
(edited)
Report contribution
Film is a visual medium by design! You can present an exciting vision through words alone, but other people understand your goals best when they can start to see your “vision”. Do your research on the films that inspire you or the exact project you’re pitching. Identify exactly why you chose those films, those screenshots, those reference photos. The best way to communicate your vision (before you’ve shot anything) is in reference to the visions of previous filmmakers. I personally believe all working filmmakers are active students of film history. The best students integrate their findings into digestible materials that ultimately showcase their own unique vision while acknowledging the work that came before them.

Like

2 How to choose the right format?

When visualizing your research, the format you choose should depend on the type, purpose, and context of your research, as well as the needs and expectations of your audience. Charts and graphs are suitable for displaying quantitative data, such as numbers, percentages, or proportions. Diagrams are ideal for illustrating qualitative data like concepts, processes, or structures. Infographics can be used to show a combination of data, information, and graphics in an attractive and informative way. When selecting a format, ensure it adequately suits your research question, data type, and main message. Avoid using too many or overly complex formats that may confuse or distract your audience.

Add your perspective

Jennifer Andersen

Associate Patent Attorney at WITHERS BERGMAN LLP/Withers tech
Report contribution
I believe that doubling the amount of slides you use and putting half the information on each is a good start. Little videos within a PP presentation are good, but the smallest bites of information and good pictures and graphs interspersed keep even the most data worthy viewers more interested. I was once complimented on my 15 minute presentation with 40 slides because our CEO "stayed awake for most of the presentation". I'll take it...

Like

3 How to design your visual communication?

When designing your visual communication, consider the use of elements such as color, shape, size, font, and layout to create a clear, consistent, and attractive representation of your research findings. To ensure an effective design, use color to create contrast or highlight information but avoid too many or too bright colors. Incorporate shape to create variety or emphasis but avoid too many or irregular shapes. Utilize size to create hierarchy, proportion, or scale but avoid sizes that are too large or small. Utilize font to create readability, style, or mood but avoid too many or fancy fonts. Lastly, employ layout to create order, alignment, or balance but avoid layouts that are too crowded or sparse. When designing your visual communication keep your audience and purpose in mind and maintain a consistent and appropriate style throughout your research project.

Add your perspective

Adam Materne

Ethics, Compliance, and Policy Professional
(edited)
Report contribution
When picking colors to liven up your presentation, remember that many viewers may have trouble recognizing what color you've chosen. This includes color-blind and visually impaired individuals. Remember to refrain from relying on colors to get your message across, such as making "bad" things red and "good" things green. Additionally there are tools to identify color-blind friendly color palettes. Approach your color design with disabilities and impairments in mind, and you can ensure that your attempt to spice up your communication doesn't end up impeding your message.

Like

4 How to use tools for visual communication?

When creating and editing visual communication, there are many tools available, ranging from simple to advanced, free to paid, online to offline. Popular tools include Microsoft Excel, Google Charts, Canva, and Adobe Illustrator. Excel is easy to use and widely available, but has limited design options and features. Google Charts is free and flexible, but requires some coding skills and internet connection. Canva is user-friendly and versatile, but has some limitations on customization and quality. Lastly, Illustrator is powerful and professional, but has a steep learning curve and a high cost. Ultimately, you should select the tool that best matches your skill level, budget, and project requirements. Be sure to explore its features and functions to optimize your visual communication.

Add your perspective

Seun Asala

Visual Communication Enthusiast and Digital Storyteller with a background in Medicine, Public Health and Development Programs. I believe communication and creative storytelling can change the world.
Report contribution
At the core of presenting any thing visually is knowing your audience. Keeping your design audience-focused is very key. It will guide you on the kind of data visualizations you use such as charts, graphs or simple icons. It will guide you on what kinds of icons or symbols or even colors are culturally and contextually appropriate. It will help you choose your vocabulary, helping you know whether to keep it high-level or break the lingo down so a teenager can grasp it. It's all about the end-user of your video, infographic or presentation. I find that getting this audience characteristics aspect sorted early on, will help make the rest of the design process easier.

Like

5 How to evaluate your visual communication?

When evaluating your visual communication, you should check and test it for accuracy, clarity, and impact before and after sharing it with your audience. Self-review is a convenient way to do this, but may be biased or incomplete. Peer-review can provide helpful and constructive feedback, but may be subjective or conflicting. User-testing is reliable and informative, but may be costly or time-consuming. It's best to use a combination of methods and make revisions or adjustments based on the results.

Add your perspective

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

Add your perspective

Charles McGuigan

Writer Independent Audio Producer
Report contribution
Words are what matter. Using visuals can enhance those words, but the narrative, spoken or written, is always the key in storytelling of any kind.

Like

How do you communicate research findings visually?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Why use visual communication?

2 How to choose the right format?

3 How to design your visual communication?

4 How to use tools for visual communication?

5 How to evaluate your visual communication?

6 Here’s what else to consider

Research

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

More articles on Research

More relevant reading

How do you communicate research findings visually?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Why use visual communication?

2 How to choose the right format?

3 How to design your visual communication?

4 How to use tools for visual communication?

5 How to evaluate your visual communication?

6 Here’s what else to consider

Research

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

Explore Other Skills