Visual+Literacy

In our modern day world there are so many methods and means that we learn by. One of the major ways we learn is through visual media. For children, when we are creating visual media for teaching our children in schools, it is essential that we find the appropriate visuals so that they completely understand the message we are trying to portray. Through the proper use of visuals, children will benefit greatly because they will see information being presented to them in a broader sense. It is really true in saying that a picture is worth a 1000 words J   With the use of the visual design principles (PAT), and with familiarization with visual literacy, I will examine the following visual and criticize the image below to further emphasize the importance of visual literacy for children (and for anyone in general)

**Perception** After looking at this image, it can be interpreted to mean that it is an advertisement telling the general public that Americans consume too much protein. Although this table does have great pictures (that are appealing) and that depict the common foods and amount that Americans consume to become over-proteined, I think that the image shows that American also eat too much food that is unhealthy. Perceptually, the image could perhaps have pictures that are so fatty so that there is more emphasis on the fact that Americans consume too much protein. Also, there is information that is missing from the table. To further emphasize the point that Americans are over-proteined, there should be comparison numbers of what is normal for and average human being, and there should be information about why it is possibly harmful for humans to be over-proteined. ** Actions ** In terms of actions, the contrast for this table could have been done differently. The images are a great size and are appealing in color, but the images should have been placed above the facts. The creator of the table did a great job in repeating the facts to further emphasize the points, but perhaps the full numbers should have been written out to strengthen the information. For example, 6,000,000 looks larger that just writing 6 million. Also, the facts need to be more specific as to what the protein is in the foods. Not everyone would know that beef is the protein in a big Mac, and not all hot dogs are made from pigs as well. ** Tools ** The graphics are pretty and have a great amount of color to draw in the audience. Also, the spacing between the graphics and facts are well done and aren’t too messy for the reader to understand. But, the graphics should have been placed directly over the facts so the reader knows exactly to what the facts are referring to. Perhaps, the table could have more examples of protein and relevant. The KFC bucket is a big vague in describing what it contains. Overall, this image is clear in the information it is trying to convey. Simple adjustments in the facts and importance of why American shouldn’t be over-proteined or why Americans should care about being over-proteined would have been important. Finally, specificity and more examples of protein would also make the message of the table more apparent.