Visual Rhetoric

In writing, we often put a huge focus on rhetoric. We spend a lot of time learning the correct rhetorical devises to persuade and reach our audience effectively. However, when it comes to writing articles and giving presentations, visual rhetoric is just as important and effective as language. 

Visual rhetoric is the ability to persuade and effectively reach your audience through visuals, rather than words. This is especially important when you are presenting information and/or trying to make a good first impression with your work. When I am visiting a website, listing to a presentation, or engaging in other information supported by visual rhetoric, the first thing I notice is what I can see. I think this is true of most people. We are not initially drawn to the words or information being presented to us, instead we are drawn to what we can see. If we see something that is distracting and confusing, we will be less likely to agree with the information begin supported. Likewise, if what we see is visually pleasing, we are more likely to agree with the information being presented to us. This is why visual rhetoric is so important for making good and lasing impressions, presenting an argument, and effectively reaching your audience.