--- title: "Instructional design: using visuals to support learning" description: A picture paints a thousand words goes the old saying. Only if the picture is communicating something clearly. Especially true when it comes to learning. image: https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/hubfs/Visuals%20to%20support%20learning%20blog%20post.jpg --- **** [![pacific-blue-logo-white](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/White%20transparent.png?width=520&height=105&name=White%20transparent.png) ![Pacific Blue Logo](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Corporate%20blue%20transparent.png?width=520&height=105&name=Corporate%20blue%20transparent.png) ](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk) [![LET'S TALK](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/31306/0bee0e88-7dab-4481-aa27-3e0ea6439460.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/31306/0bee0e88-7dab-4481-aa27-3e0ea6439460) [**](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/learning-academy-blog/instructional-design-using-visuals-to-support-learning#tmpmodule_1568761248550301) ** #### Evaluating Training Effectivenes [![mega-menu-graphic](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/f5zha8dh6586r0z/mega-menu-graphic.jpg "mega-menu-graphic")](https://marketplace.hubspot.com/products/design-with-speed/clean-premium-pack) #### Learning Re-Framed In-House Programme #### Articulate Storyline #### Storyline In-House Programmes #### Storyline Scheduled Public Courses #### Course Bookings ![Complete ID Brochure Image - CLEAN](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/hubfs/Complete%20ID%20Brochure%20Image%20-%20CLEAN.png "Complete ID Brochure Image - CLEAN") #### E-Learning Design & Development Services [![Happy in front of laptops](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/hubfs/Happy%20in%20front%20of%20laptops.jpg "Happy in front of laptops")](https://marketplace.hubspot.com/products/design-with-speed/clean-premium-pack) #### Other Design & Development Services ![placeholder_200x200](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/content/email-template-images/placeholder_200x200.png "placeholder_200x200") #### More ![Customers](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/hubfs/Customers.jpg "Customers") ###### 2 min read # [Instructional design: using visuals to support learning](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/learning-academy-blog/instructional-design-using-visuals-to-support-learning) By [Pacific Blue](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/learning-academy-blog/author/pacific-blue) on Mon, Jan 15,2024 ###### Topics: [Instructional Design](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/learning-academy-blog/topic/instructional-design) [Course Design](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/learning-academy-blog/topic/course-design) ![Graphic designer at work](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/hubfs/Visuals%20to%20support%20learning%20blog%20post.jpg) When developing learning materials, most instructional designers and trainers rarely give much thought to how they use visuals and graphics. Typically, they just add them as a way to liven up dull looking text.  In contrast, as most graphic designers know well, there is an entire vocabulary and language connected with the use of visuals. This is something rarely included as part of conventional instructional design training. A pity, because it is a language which instructional designers and trainers would get a great deal of benefit from knowing. If you are interested in learning more about the language of visuals, as good a starting point as any is an understanding of the five instructional functions for graphics. These functional categories are as follows: **Decorative visuals:** used to make instruction more appealing and motivating. They typically do not have a strong association with the instructional content. Interestingly, in a study of sixth grade science textbooks in the US, Richard Mayer found that over 85% of graphics fell into the decorative category. This statistic seems to support the view expressed in the opening of this article - that many instructional designers (and text book publishers) pay little attention to the significance of visuals and graphics. In the light of this finding, it’s probably fair to say that decorative graphics should be used with caution. **Representative visuals**: used to make information more concrete. They convey information quickly and easily, reducing the need for lengthy textual explanation. **Organisational visuals**: help learners understand the structure, sequence and hierarchy of information and help people integrate that into their existing knowledge. Examples include charts, graphs and displays that help people see relationships between elements. **Interpretive visuals**: used to help learners understand difficult and ambiguous or abstract content. In general, they help make information more comprehensible. Examples include models of systems and diagrams of processes. **Transformative visuals**: used to make information more memorable. They are intended to aid learners' thought processes. They focus more on helping the learner understand than on presenting content. Transformative visuals can be a little unconventional and because of this are not widely found in learning materials. In conclusion, we've all heard the phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words". And many people accept this wisdom without question.  In fact, just because something is communicated visually doesn't necessarily make it more valid or easier to understand. A poorly designed visual or graphic could just as easily impede learning as facilitate it.  Indeed, a poorly designed graphic where the purpose and instructional function are mismatched might need a thousand words to help explain it clearly to learners. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) #### Written by [Pacific Blue](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/learning-academy-blog/author/pacific-blue) ###### [** Previous Post](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/learning-academy-blog/more-tips-for-choosing-e-learning-software) [![On the path to e-learning software choices](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/hubfs/Choose%20authoring%20tool%20blog%20post-1.jpg) ](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/learning-academy-blog/more-tips-for-choosing-e-learning-software) ###### [More tips for choosing e-learning software](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/learning-academy-blog/more-tips-for-choosing-e-learning-software) ###### [Next Post **](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/learning-academy-blog/instructional-design-essentials-making-learning-meaningful) [![Learners work on a practice activity](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/hubfs/Training%20Evaluation%20Services.jpg) ](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/learning-academy-blog/instructional-design-essentials-making-learning-meaningful) ###### [Instructional design essentials: making learning meaningful](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/learning-academy-blog/instructional-design-essentials-making-learning-meaningful) ##### Impact and Instructional Design - Guides Impact and Instructional Design - Guides ##### Learning Re-Framed Programmes Learning Re-Framed Programmes ##### Storyline Training - Courses Storyline Training - Courses ##### E-Learning Design - Guides and Toolkits E-Learning Design - Guides and Toolkits [![White transparent-2](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/White%20transparent-2.png?width=150&height=30&name=White%20transparent-2.png "White transparent-2")](https://www.pacificblue.co.uk) Copyright © 2026 Pacific Blue Solutions Ltd ** ![](https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/1071354352/?value=0&guid=ON&script=0) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Pacific Blue", "url" : "https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/learning-academy-blog/author/pacific-blue" }, "dateModified" : "2024-01-15T14:00:03.142Z", "datePublished" : "2024-01-15T14:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Instructional design: using visuals to support learning", "image" : [ "https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/hubfs/Visuals%20to%20support%20learning%20blog%20post.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/learning-academy-blog/instructional-design-using-visuals-to-support-learning", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.pacificblue.co.uk/hs-fs/images/communicating-information-22.png" }, "name" : "Pacific Blue Solutions" } } ```