
This still from War Dogs nails one of the simplest design tricks in marketing: annotate your visuals. Numbers floating over the soldiers instantly tell a story about cost, value, and scale—without a single paragraph of text.
Marketing analysis
Each number acts like a caption, turning a generic image into a data-rich visual. Viewers now feel the magnitude of military spending rather than just reading about it. This technique transforms complexity into clarity.
Why it works
- Visual + data = instant comprehension
- Numbers act as proof elements (great for credibility)
- Makes abstract topics tangible
- Encourages longer viewing time
Examples
- Apple’s product photos with callouts for design features
- Tesla’s car breakdowns showing cost per part
- Shopify’s dashboard visuals highlighting earnings per sale
- Infographics from The Economist showing price tags on global issues






