A variety of formats allows others to view an idea from many viewpoints, increasing each person's chance of gaining an accurate understanding. For example, the floor plan of a house gives no direct sense of vertical dimension. However, two drawings or a perspective drawing can make it possible to comprehend the third dimension. A dynamic on-screen walkthrough is even better. On the other hand, graphical instructions on assembling a bike without any text would be of little use.
Words are generally helpful in describing how to make parts fit together.
In a collaborative design session, there may be other options for expressing ideas. When an idea is introduced, it may be rendered in multiple forms thereby increasing the chance of its being understood. Different ideas generally benefit from expression in different media, each medium chosen to best convey an aspect of the idea at hand. Furthermore, modern electronic communication can bring appropriate information from a myriad of sources in various media to a team. This access to global information resources prevents unnecessary delays and delivers information when it is most valuable and usable.