Just think for a moment of the last thing you learned that really stuck with you. Bet it wasn’t a wall of text or a heavy lecture. More likely, it was a narrative — something easy to look at and fun to follow. That is the strength of visual storytelling. Our brains tend to pay more attention and to remember things better when we’re not looking at facts and figures but instead hearing a story.
In the age of Facebook, long-form writing is on the brink of disappearance and, by extension, any form of argument or sustained reasoning. Visual storytelling helps information break through the noise, transforming content into experiences. Rather than telling people what they need to know, it shows them — and that distinction is more important than we often realize.
Why visuals make learning easier
Images are processed in our brains faster than text. Visualization not only makes concepts interesting, but it also helps learners grasp knowledge faster, without the burden of retaining information for a long period. The visuals, coupled with a story (beginning, problem statement, resolution), can help people compartmentalize and remember the information.
Take, for example, a type of business workflow: to describe it in text just feels uncomfortable and boring. But display the identical process as a brief-animate sequence with characters and icons and action — suddenly it makes sense. Learners can ‘see’ the connections between everything, which helps to make abstract concepts more defined.
Simplifying Complexity through Simple Storytelling
Perhaps one of the most significant benefits of visual storytelling is the ability to simplify complex information. Sometimes, complex information or training materials can be difficult to present because they assume a one-size-fits-all approach to learning. Visual storytelling fills the gap.
Take a scenario where a group of new employees needs to be brought up to speed with a company’s policies and procedures. Instead of bombarding them with a 20-page document, a story about a new employee’s first week in the office can be told through a series of steps and procedures. The learner doesn’t have to memorize procedures and rules; he or she is engaged in a story.
More and more teachers and trainers are using tools such as infographics and even animations created with an animation maker to present information in a more visually interesting way.
Emotional connection is key to retention
People tend to recall what evokes an emotional response. Visual content provides an emotional dimension to a message, using characters, scenarios, and real-life situations. Whether it’s funny, intriguing, or touching, emotions help with memory recall.
For instance, safety training can be a dull topic. A long list of dos and don’ts can easily be forgotten. A short visual story with real-life consequences, using characters and scenarios, will leave a lasting impression. Not only will they be informed, but they will also be emotionally attached.
This emotional dimension also creates trust. When a learner feels that the content has been created with thought and consideration, they will be more engaged and come back for more.
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Practical tips for effective visual storytelling
You do not need a large budget or a team of people to effectively use visual storytelling. Here are some practical tips for using visual storytelling effectively:
- Focus on one idea per story
- Use visuals to reinforce your idea, not take away from it
- Keep your story short and to the point
- Use real-life scenarios that your audience can relate to
- Use motion to naturally draw attention
It is not about making it perfect; it is about making it clear.
A smarter way to help people learn
Visual storytelling is not a trend; it’s a smarter approach to how people are learning today. When information is delivered visually and packaged in a meaningful story, people will be more engaged for a longer duration and retain more information afterwards.
As technology increasingly influences learning and training, the most effective learning experiences will be those that are human, intuitive, and simple. “If you want people to remember what you’re saying, don’t explain it, tell it. Tell it visually.
