Category Archives: Size, Shape, Selective Proximity

Verbal Whitespace: Translating Page Skills To Words

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A great diagram! You've seen them. You've experienced them. They exemplify the old adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Do we give as much thought to what we say and how we say it when we are presenting? What if we applied the same principles to the words we add to our pictures?

Great diagrams result in clarity, confidence, peace, and even inspiration! Great speakers can achieve similar results by augmenting their diagrams and pictures with effective words and delivery.

Let's explore how we might go about applying some of the same principles that make diagrams great to the spoken word. In this post we'll start with whitespace. 

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Too Much to Convey, Too Little Space

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In a previous post I discussed a common challenge my clients, and all of us for that matter, frequently face when creating complex diagrams: too much to convey, too little space. I suggested using color to add meaning without taking up valuable real estate on the page. Skillfully selecting the shape of the elements on your page can also help.

Let's consider the subtle ways the shape of an element can convey information. I can think of at least three ways:

  • Imply membership in a class of element, e.g. external data source, application, database
  • Focus your audience's attention
  • Imply importance or urgency

Yes, carefully choosing the shape of your elements will help you to convey more information when space is scarce. Having too much to convey and too little space need not be a show stopper for a good whiteboarder.

I am wondering if there are more things a shape can convey. What do you think? Please click on the comment link below and share your ideas with us.