Visual Noise
Minimize visual noise by reducing extreme variations in texture. Flat areas of colors with a non detailed background works well.
Visual noise can add realism but be careful because that can lead to confusing if not closely controlled. Cleaning up an image is occurred when you remove enough realism from an image that the image is still perceived real. Think utopia or pristine.
Silhouettes
Silhouettes are a great way to establish figure-ground relationships. This can be used to establish hierarchy. Applying a silhouette will usually require a b/w relationship with the background, built between contrasting values or colors. Some detail to the figure is important to establish what it is; A man or a bear or a goat could make a big difference in communication.
Iconic Forms
Icons are still a learned language. We learn together as a society just as we choose to learn the English vocabulary and not the Spanish. They can help use designers immediately indicate the function or role of an object or area or contents (etc..) They are effective in signage, maps, technical displays, catalogs, diagrams, and graphs.
F-ing ICONS! Love to hate them hate to love them. They can be such a useful tool but sometime they can be used very tacky. Icons are great because they are universal. I wonder what our visual alphabet as a combined world is?
Line Art
Line art is an even more simplified version of a silhouette, sharing qualities such as detail while filtering out irrelevant information. Line are sometimes can be more effective as a primary image. It has more potential for displaying emotion, ideas, or the object. They also abstract the realism by providing all the necessary detail and omitting anything superfluous.
Quantity
The quantity of images can directly reflect the hierarchy we as designers are communicating. Reducing quantity of images within a message can create visual impact/importance. Subtracting elements of a design until its skin and bones can work.
