Visual Space

Using the visual space for communication is one of the most significant ways that humans can communicate with one another without having to rely on language or text. Imagery can tell a story in a way that does not require reading text and does not rely on the acoustic space. “VISUAL SPACE is contested space. Not only is it what you see, but what others want you to see.”( Barber 2019). Imagery is often times used when the narrator of a story wants to guide the way the viewer experiences their story. Images add interest to a story and is a powerful way to pull in an audience.

It wasn’t until the Twentieth century that we began to see an influx of picture or illustration heavy books. Most commonly, these illustrations were done in watercolor or pencil drawings, although now we see a wide range of mediums used. The introduction of imagery in books allowed for a more concrete visual representation of a story. An affordance of utilizing visual imagery is that it allowed individuals who were unable to read the opportunity to experience a story. Along with text based stories, imagery also allows for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing an opportunity to experience a story that they would not otherwise be able to experience if told solely through the acoustic space. One of the disadvantages of having a story represented in the visual space is that the imagery is provided to the user rather than the user conceiving their own mental visualizations of the story. However, interpretation of the imagery is still a personal and individual experience which can differ for each user.

Below I will show a visual representation of the same story that has been presented in the other spaces. As you view the imagery, consider how the story represented in a visual space communicates the story. Does the imagery enhance your experience as the user?

Now that we have taken a closer look at how a story can be communicated in various spaces, let us consider how simultaneously utilizing all of these spaces can create yet another user experience. Below is an example of the same story shown previously, however audio, text, and imagery is used to tell the story. As you interact with the story, consider how combining all three spaces changes the way that you experience the story.