How to Write Text Descriptions
Text description is the skill of turning what is seen into something that can be heard. Text description, developed to convey visual information to people with low or no vision, also expands the visual awareness and visual vocabulary for all people and supports a broad range of learning and processing styles.
We require all images and other graphic materials submitted for publication on the Universal Design Education Online web site to include text descriptions. These are particularly helpful for people with visual disabilities or limited bandwidth.
Because you know your rationale for including a particular image in your submission, consider the reason for its selection. When you are describing it, qualitative judgments are considered subjective interpretation and usually are unnecessary. If additional text is provided for the image, your description may supplement the text; it need not duplicate it.
Type of image
State the type of image being described.- Is it a color photograph, black and white photograph, topographical map,line drawing, watercolor, or blueprint copy?
- Is it a close-up detail or a broad panorama?
From the General to the Specific
Describe the image from the general to the specific; that is, provide an overview or conceptual framework before details are added.
- Is your image a video monitor?
Is it a car interior? A product detail? An urban environment? Is it the interior of a bedroom? A close up of a landscape element such as a piece of sculpture? - What is most important? How do the parts relate to one another?
Add to this any details that enhance the significance of the photograph, leaving out details that might bog the listener down.
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However, do not leave something out because it seems obvious. Many of the features and elements that contribute to the success of universal design are invisible and thus difficult for a novice to identify--it may be important to highlight them.
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If a tone is established in the design include a statement that describes the motif. For example, "The play structure, with varying height hip roofs, suggests a village.
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If you can, with some degree of accuracy, approximate the sizes of elements, do so to establish scale. For example, if a console in a museum is the subject of the image, it is important to describe its size."The top of the console is approximately 3 feet deep by 5 feet wide and angles from high at the back to low in the front."
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Judiciously use selected metaphors. For example, "The tool's gripping area is approximately the size and shape of a lemon."
- Offer a recognized symbol, letter, or object for someone to start developing his or her own cognitive map. For example, "The kitchen is a wide U-shape with the base of the "U" at the bottom of the image. An island is positioned between the legs and toward the top of the "U". The left, far corner has windows on both sides. Starting on the right at 3:00 is a dishwasher elevated about 6 inches with wall cabinets above," etc.
- Note that specifying room corners is helpful to the understanding of a space and should be included. For example, "Along the far wall is an approximately 4-foot-wide pantry, continuing to the right is the door to the outdoors, and finally the refrigerator before the room corner."
- An example of an image description for a bridge: "Color photograph looking across the "Inner Sea" back toward land and the "Arched Bridge." In the foreground is the "Inner Sea," above it is a two-story concrete and glass building on the left, and the "Arched Bridge" curving up and toward the right side of the picture frame. This large wooden bridge, teak in color, is approximately 70 feet wide and is a combination of steps on either end with a step less section at the apex. Pedestrians reach the top observation area via steps or elevator. Periodically, spots along the bridge flatten to make level viewing and resting areas." Not mentioned or described is a stacked freeway directly behind the building and bridge because it did not significantly contribute to the understanding of the "Arched Bridge," the featured element in the image, and so was not included.
For example, if describing the OXO potato peeler, the handle material is important and should be described along with the shape and flexible gripping fins. "The handle is made of a black rubbery material to improve grip even with wet hands. It is oval in cross-section and is deeply grooved on the sides toward the tool end which creates a softer gripping area under the user's thumb."
People in the image
People can be useful in a description.- For example, "A close-up photograph of a man opening the left panel of a glass double door" may describe the setting.
- If the focus of your example is a specific type of door, it does not matter what color coat the man is wearing, but the design details of the door, its handle, etc. should be articulated.
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If
a person using a wheelchair is included in the image as in the example
of the museum console in the section "From the General to the Specific"
above, include the fact that the person can pull up under the console
top and reach the controls.
It may be useful to indicate that the arms of the wheelchair
slide under the console top and there is approximately 36 inches of
horizontal clear space between the sides of the console.
Ambience
- If the quality of the light is integral to why the room was located on the north side of the building, for example, to illuminate an artist's studio, say so.
Finally
- Read your descriptions aloud. Does it give you a mental picture similar to the visual version? Can you "see" the picture accurately?
- Read your descriptions to someone who has never seen the image. Then show your listener the image and ask how the image they imagined was different from the actual image.
