Images with Impact: Design and Use of Winning Trial Visuals

by Kerri L. Ruttenberg

Overview

Many studies have been conducted over the years on the importance of visual perception and visual communication. The consistent takeaway is that using visuals makes a difference in how humans communicate. And then there’s the jury setting itself—it is like no other. And that matters, too. Appreciating how jury trials are fundamentally different from other communication settings is critical to the effective design of our trial visuals.

At its core, Images with Impact: Design and Use of Winning Trial Visuals is about helping to win trials with effective visual images. Each chapter builds to give substantive ideas, design guidance, and practical and legal tips for improving jury visuals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781634257428
Publisher:	American Bar Association
Publication date:	02/07/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	384
File size:	34 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Kerri Ruttenberg is a trial lawyer based in Washington, D.C., and a partner in a toptier global law firm. With a local and national practice, Kerri has tried cases in state and federal courts around the country. Kerri centers her practice on white-collar and complex criminal defense and parallel civil enforcement actions. She has secured defense jury verdicts in cases involving a broad spectrum of allegations ranging from securities fraud, conspiracy and False Claims Act violations to kidnapping, grand larceny and first-degree murder. In addition, Kerri has represented clients in litigation, bench trials and arbitrations involving patent infringement, antitrust violations, theft of trade secrets and contract and fiduciary duty claims.

Kerri has consistently been selected to Washington DC Super Lawyers every year since 2013. Beyond her significant trial victories, Kerri also has a successful appellate practice, and has been selected to the National Law Journal’s “Appellate Hot List.”

Based on nearly 20 years of trial experience and juror interviews, as well as her own study of graphic design and frequent work with designers, Kerri conducts seminars and a continuing legal education program on the design and use of visuals for effective communication. Lawyers, law students, professors and expert witnesses and consultants have attended Kerri’s presentations, later implementing her strategies in jury and bench trials, significant motions, expert reports and even in the classroom.

When she’s not practicing law, giving presentations on visual communication or reading books on graphic design, Kerri is an avid landscape and travel photographer. She has had a gallery showing in Maryland, and much of her photography is featured at an internationally-recognized healthcare institute based in Baltimore.

Table of Contents

About the Author vii

Acknowledgments viii

Introduction x

Part I Why We Should Use Visuals to Turn Themes into Pictures 1

1 Why Visual Communication Matters 3

2 Uniqueness of the Jury Setting 13

3 Turning Themes into Pictures 23

Part II Tools for Visual Communication 37

4 Using Basic Text 39

5 Volume Builds 53

6 Charts and Graphs 71

7 Timelines 87

8 Maps 101

9 Photographs 115

10 Graphics, Drawings, and Diagrams 135

11 Using Exhibits 159

12 Animation and Simulations 165

Part III The Basics of Graphic Design 177

13 Typography 179

14 Alignment 191

15 Proximity 197

16 Contrast 205

17 White Space 213

18 Repetition 221

19 Color 227

20 Backgrounds 251

Part IV Strategic Considerations 259

21 Spotting Misleading Visuals: Objecting vs. Using Them to Your Advantage 261

22 Practical Tips for Creating Visuals 279

23 Practical Tips for Using Visuals in Trial 289

24 Legal Considerations 307

Image Credits 319

References 333

Index 359