Persuasive visualizations build upon common cultural expectations. They
develop and distill a story theme into its key components and land on the
right image to capture its essence. That image will compel attention and
belief if it fits the story being told and if it is immediately accessible
to ordinary common sense (making it 'self-evident').
The most
salient image is the by-product of cultural and cognitive understanding
integrated with aesthetic craft and technical know-how. This is the art
and science of visual persuasion. This is the formula for turning well
designed information into strategic meaning.