Infographics spice up ‘boring’ data
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nInfographics are useful because they turn historically lengthy and tedious bulks of data in to something that\u2019s much more interesting: a visual.<\/p>\n
As a society heading into the new decade, we want to read less and see more. While this doesn\u2019t bode too well for book publishers, it\u2019s opened a whole new creative area for designers.<\/p>\n
An increasing number of companies and clients are recognizing the benefits of infographics and want their data jazzed up and dressed for the prom. They know that their assiduously compiled information has a far better chance of being read, appreciated, shared and widely circulated if it looks less like an annual report and more like the next big meme. And if you aren\u2019t convinced yet, here\u2019s an infographic on why you should use infographics.<\/p>\n
You will need your existing skills. And more.
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhile the graphics used in infographics have become more eye-catching and sophisticated, they are not too different in purpose from the charts and graphs we used to make in high school. After all, the objective is still to present data in a more visually engaging and accessible way.<\/p>\n
However, print and web designers are having a hard time transferring their existing skills to infographics because, as the many aspiring infographics designers will tell you, designing good infographics isn\u2019t as simple as it looks. Sure, you still need the same essential aesthetic and technical skills but you should also be able to effectively translate data into visuals. Most importantly, you need to ensure that the infographic acts as an informative tool and not as a visual distraction.<\/p>\n
The 7 rules of great infographic design
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhether you have just been asked by a client to create your very first infographic or you have been struggling with making good ones for a while, here are the 7 things you should know about designing great infographics:<\/p>\n
1. Plan and sketch
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nTake some time- even half an hour is enough- to plan the infographic before you start copying the data on to your canvas. Think about the best way to visualize the information in front of you and how you should go about it.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ceblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Process-Board-Employment-Statistics-819x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n2. Know when to go all the way out – and when to keep it simple
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhen infographics first exploded on the Internet, designers got a bit carried away. Everyone started competing with each other on who could come up with the most vibrant, \u2018creative\u2019 and convoluted piece of data visualization possible.<\/p>\n
Why go for a bar graph if you can show the same stats through readings on a barometer, right?<\/p>\n
WRONG.<\/p>\n
While the infographics produced as a result of this ill-directed movement proved effective for link baiting and viral purposes, they did not fulfill their real purpose. They had become more about form than function and the data was lost somewhere between the lurid typography, the over-the-top artwork and the esoteric representations. Data had become secondary even though infographics, by definition, are one half information and one half graphics.<\/p>\n
You should not go for a \u2018great\u2019 visual just for the sake of it if it obscures the data in any way. If your client insists on seeing unnecessary prodigious artwork, you should at least let them know why you think it does the data a disservice instead of a favor.<\/p>\n
Having said that, it\u2019s important to note that extreme \u2018minimalism\u2019 doesn\u2019t have a place in infographics either. You should allow the data to come to the surface but you should never be afraid to put on a show. Infographics are a great creatively challenging outlet that let you put your creative skills to a test by pitting them against your analytical ones. And we all love to see beautifully designed infographics that act as a great showcase for data. So yes, there is definitely room to go all out at times!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
This Dott infographic, Cornwall by Design, visualizes everything the company does and makes it all come together in a glorious little dot.\u00a0![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ceblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/dott_infographic-723x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nHere is an example of a simple yet creative pie chart that eliminate the need for more elaborate artwork.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ceblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/where-does-google-make-its-money-478x1024.png\")
<\/a><\/div>\n\n3. Tell a story through organization
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nA good infographic is like a good story.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a hook, a focal point and a major-takeaway. You want to capture\u00a0attention, expand it to what you want to say and make sure the reader gets\u00a0something from it. To establish this narrative you need to understand what\u00a0makes the data compelling and important, and how it was collected.<\/p>\n
Find the most important ideas that need to be expressed and how you can\u00a0make them more engaging. For instance, if you were creating an infographic on\u00a0the biggest trending topics on twitter, you could start by asking yourself\u00a0questions like:<\/p>\n
\n- What caused that trend?<\/span><\/li>\n
- What\u2019s different, interesting or impressive\u00a0<\/span>about the person\/event behind that trend?<\/span><\/li>\n
- How does it compare to similar trends in the\u00a0<\/span>past?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Organization wise, the title-body-conclusion sequence\u00a0applies to infographics too. The infographic should progress logically and\u00a0visually lead the reader through the information\u00a0 to the end\/conclusion.<\/p>\n
For most infographics, there is usually one section which is the\u00a0most important piece of the data and you will need to build the entire graphic around it. Through your layout, artwork and organization make sure that this piece\u00a0is the best designed and most emphasized component in the infographic.<\/p>\n
This infographic by Coleen Corcoran and Joe Prichard uses an engaging and progressive structure to tell the story of motoring in the US over the last 100 years.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ceblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/motoring-in-america-1024x636.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
4. Build your personal list of easy and reliable visual associations<\/h2>\n
A good tip for becoming more efficient with infographic\u00a0design (by spending less time on brainstorming the next great dataviz idea) is\u00a0by developing a visual strategy for common types of data. For instance, if you need to show the number of people who do something as opposed to\u00a0those who do not, or the variation in certain statistics for different\u00a0geographic locations. In cases like these, reliable visualizations include\u00a0silhouettes and maps, respectively.<\/p>\n
This is not to say that you should stop being creative. By\u00a0all means, if you find you can visualize your people or country data in a more\u00a0compelling, effective and creative way, go for it. However, there\u2019s nothing\u00a0wrong with having a back-up plan!<\/p>\n
In the cut-outs below, you can see silhouettes representing the number of Americans who own iPods and maps displaying the employment statistics for different regions in Great Britain. Clearly you could use silhouettes just as well for people who own cars and maps for GDP amounts of all the African countries.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ceblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Cutouts.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Take a look at these five visual associations that can be incorporated into your infographics.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ceblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/easy-visualizations.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n5. Be clever and humorous. But make sure you succeed.
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nDesigning infographics becomes an even bigger challenge if\u00a0you have to come up with clever copy and analogies. If\u00a0you are not good at wordplay or drawing interesting associations, it is best to leave\u00a0them to a copywriter or a marketing expert.<\/span><\/p>\nIf, however, you are asked to produce your own analogies and\u00a0humor for the infographic, start by viewing the infographic as the target\u00a0audience would and think about how they would connect more to it.<\/p>\n
Can a comparison make a certain statistic more accessible or\u00a0appealing?<\/p>\n
\u201cThe number of Facebook\u00a0users is equal to the entire population of the US\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\nWould the infographic benefit from a humorous pop culture\u00a0reference?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had our factories\u00a0thoroughly cleaned 6 times this year. That\u2019s more times than Lindsay Lohan\u2019s<\/span> been to rehab\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\nAsking questions like this can help you in designing the\u00a0verbal aspect of your infographic. But as you can probably tell, coming up with\u00a0associations and jokes for infographics is a tricky business. Don\u2019t attempt\u00a0them unless you are sure they work.<\/p>\n
Here is some historical\/political humor in an infographic about cats.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ceblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/image0081.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n6. Keep the purpose and tone in mind
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nWe all want infographics to be visually arresting eye-candy\u00a0but there are certain aesthetic restrictions you will need to consider\u00a0depending on the purpose and target audience.<\/p>\n
If you are designing an\u00a0infographic on the history of the Disney brand, bright cartoonish illustrations\u00a0are to be expected. However, if you are designing an infographic highlighting corporate\u00a0successes in the past fiscal year for distribution to potential investors, you should\u00a0resist neon colors and inappropriate humor.<\/p>\n
Cartoon illustrations and bright colors are appropriate for this Disney VS Marvel infographic.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ceblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/image009.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBP’s infographic about Relief Wells and Subsea containment uses a sombre black and blue palette.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n
While the graphics used in infographics have become more eye-catching and sophisticated, they are not too different in purpose from the charts and graphs we used to make in high school. After all, the objective is still to present data in a more visually engaging and accessible way.<\/p>\n
However, print and web designers are having a hard time transferring their existing skills to infographics because, as the many aspiring infographics designers will tell you, designing good infographics isn\u2019t as simple as it looks. Sure, you still need the same essential aesthetic and technical skills but you should also be able to effectively translate data into visuals. Most importantly, you need to ensure that the infographic acts as an informative tool and not as a visual distraction.<\/p>\n
The 7 rules of great infographic design
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhether you have just been asked by a client to create your very first infographic or you have been struggling with making good ones for a while, here are the 7 things you should know about designing great infographics:<\/p>\n
1. Plan and sketch
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nTake some time- even half an hour is enough- to plan the infographic before you start copying the data on to your canvas. Think about the best way to visualize the information in front of you and how you should go about it.<\/p>\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\n2. Know when to go all the way out – and when to keep it simple
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhen infographics first exploded on the Internet, designers got a bit carried away. Everyone started competing with each other on who could come up with the most vibrant, \u2018creative\u2019 and convoluted piece of data visualization possible.<\/p>\n
Why go for a bar graph if you can show the same stats through readings on a barometer, right?<\/p>\n
WRONG.<\/p>\n
While the infographics produced as a result of this ill-directed movement proved effective for link baiting and viral purposes, they did not fulfill their real purpose. They had become more about form than function and the data was lost somewhere between the lurid typography, the over-the-top artwork and the esoteric representations. Data had become secondary even though infographics, by definition, are one half information and one half graphics.<\/p>\n
You should not go for a \u2018great\u2019 visual just for the sake of it if it obscures the data in any way. If your client insists on seeing unnecessary prodigious artwork, you should at least let them know why you think it does the data a disservice instead of a favor.<\/p>\n
Having said that, it\u2019s important to note that extreme \u2018minimalism\u2019 doesn\u2019t have a place in infographics either. You should allow the data to come to the surface but you should never be afraid to put on a show. Infographics are a great creatively challenging outlet that let you put your creative skills to a test by pitting them against your analytical ones. And we all love to see beautifully designed infographics that act as a great showcase for data. So yes, there is definitely room to go all out at times!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
This Dott infographic, Cornwall by Design, visualizes everything the company does and makes it all come together in a glorious little dot.\u00a0<\/a><\/div>\nHere is an example of a simple yet creative pie chart that eliminate the need for more elaborate artwork.<\/a><\/div>\n\n3. Tell a story through organization
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nA good infographic is like a good story.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a hook, a focal point and a major-takeaway. You want to capture\u00a0attention, expand it to what you want to say and make sure the reader gets\u00a0something from it. To establish this narrative you need to understand what\u00a0makes the data compelling and important, and how it was collected.<\/p>\n
Find the most important ideas that need to be expressed and how you can\u00a0make them more engaging. For instance, if you were creating an infographic on\u00a0the biggest trending topics on twitter, you could start by asking yourself\u00a0questions like:<\/p>\n
\n- What caused that trend?<\/span><\/li>\n
- What\u2019s different, interesting or impressive\u00a0<\/span>about the person\/event behind that trend?<\/span><\/li>\n
- How does it compare to similar trends in the\u00a0<\/span>past?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Organization wise, the title-body-conclusion sequence\u00a0applies to infographics too. The infographic should progress logically and\u00a0visually lead the reader through the information\u00a0 to the end\/conclusion.<\/p>\n
For most infographics, there is usually one section which is the\u00a0most important piece of the data and you will need to build the entire graphic around it. Through your layout, artwork and organization make sure that this piece\u00a0is the best designed and most emphasized component in the infographic.<\/p>\n
This infographic by Coleen Corcoran and Joe Prichard uses an engaging and progressive structure to tell the story of motoring in the US over the last 100 years.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
4. Build your personal list of easy and reliable visual associations<\/h2>\n
A good tip for becoming more efficient with infographic\u00a0design (by spending less time on brainstorming the next great dataviz idea) is\u00a0by developing a visual strategy for common types of data. For instance, if you need to show the number of people who do something as opposed to\u00a0those who do not, or the variation in certain statistics for different\u00a0geographic locations. In cases like these, reliable visualizations include\u00a0silhouettes and maps, respectively.<\/p>\n
This is not to say that you should stop being creative. By\u00a0all means, if you find you can visualize your people or country data in a more\u00a0compelling, effective and creative way, go for it. However, there\u2019s nothing\u00a0wrong with having a back-up plan!<\/p>\n
In the cut-outs below, you can see silhouettes representing the number of Americans who own iPods and maps displaying the employment statistics for different regions in Great Britain. Clearly you could use silhouettes just as well for people who own cars and maps for GDP amounts of all the African countries.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Take a look at these five visual associations that can be incorporated into your infographics.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n5. Be clever and humorous. But make sure you succeed.
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nDesigning infographics becomes an even bigger challenge if\u00a0you have to come up with clever copy and analogies. If\u00a0you are not good at wordplay or drawing interesting associations, it is best to leave\u00a0them to a copywriter or a marketing expert.<\/span><\/p>\nIf, however, you are asked to produce your own analogies and\u00a0humor for the infographic, start by viewing the infographic as the target\u00a0audience would and think about how they would connect more to it.<\/p>\n
Can a comparison make a certain statistic more accessible or\u00a0appealing?<\/p>\n
\u201cThe number of Facebook\u00a0users is equal to the entire population of the US\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\nWould the infographic benefit from a humorous pop culture\u00a0reference?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had our factories\u00a0thoroughly cleaned 6 times this year. That\u2019s more times than Lindsay Lohan\u2019s<\/span> been to rehab\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\nAsking questions like this can help you in designing the\u00a0verbal aspect of your infographic. But as you can probably tell, coming up with\u00a0associations and jokes for infographics is a tricky business. Don\u2019t attempt\u00a0them unless you are sure they work.<\/p>\n
Here is some historical\/political humor in an infographic about cats.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n6. Keep the purpose and tone in mind
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nWe all want infographics to be visually arresting eye-candy\u00a0but there are certain aesthetic restrictions you will need to consider\u00a0depending on the purpose and target audience.<\/p>\n
If you are designing an\u00a0infographic on the history of the Disney brand, bright cartoonish illustrations\u00a0are to be expected. However, if you are designing an infographic highlighting corporate\u00a0successes in the past fiscal year for distribution to potential investors, you should\u00a0resist neon colors and inappropriate humor.<\/p>\n
Cartoon illustrations and bright colors are appropriate for this Disney VS Marvel infographic.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nBP’s infographic about Relief Wells and Subsea containment uses a sombre black and blue palette.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Take some time- even half an hour is enough- to plan the infographic before you start copying the data on to your canvas. Think about the best way to visualize the information in front of you and how you should go about it.<\/p>\n
When infographics first exploded on the Internet, designers got a bit carried away. Everyone started competing with each other on who could come up with the most vibrant, \u2018creative\u2019 and convoluted piece of data visualization possible.<\/p>\n Why go for a bar graph if you can show the same stats through readings on a barometer, right?<\/p>\n WRONG.<\/p>\n While the infographics produced as a result of this ill-directed movement proved effective for link baiting and viral purposes, they did not fulfill their real purpose. They had become more about form than function and the data was lost somewhere between the lurid typography, the over-the-top artwork and the esoteric representations. Data had become secondary even though infographics, by definition, are one half information and one half graphics.<\/p>\n You should not go for a \u2018great\u2019 visual just for the sake of it if it obscures the data in any way. If your client insists on seeing unnecessary prodigious artwork, you should at least let them know why you think it does the data a disservice instead of a favor.<\/p>\n Having said that, it\u2019s important to note that extreme \u2018minimalism\u2019 doesn\u2019t have a place in infographics either. You should allow the data to come to the surface but you should never be afraid to put on a show. Infographics are a great creatively challenging outlet that let you put your creative skills to a test by pitting them against your analytical ones. And we all love to see beautifully designed infographics that act as a great showcase for data. So yes, there is definitely room to go all out at times!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A good infographic is like a good story.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a hook, a focal point and a major-takeaway. You want to capture\u00a0attention, expand it to what you want to say and make sure the reader gets\u00a0something from it. To establish this narrative you need to understand what\u00a0makes the data compelling and important, and how it was collected.<\/p>\n Find the most important ideas that need to be expressed and how you can\u00a0make them more engaging. For instance, if you were creating an infographic on\u00a0the biggest trending topics on twitter, you could start by asking yourself\u00a0questions like:<\/p>\n Organization wise, the title-body-conclusion sequence\u00a0applies to infographics too. The infographic should progress logically and\u00a0visually lead the reader through the information\u00a0 to the end\/conclusion.<\/p>\n For most infographics, there is usually one section which is the\u00a0most important piece of the data and you will need to build the entire graphic around it. Through your layout, artwork and organization make sure that this piece\u00a0is the best designed and most emphasized component in the infographic.<\/p>\n This infographic by Coleen Corcoran and Joe Prichard uses an engaging and progressive structure to tell the story of motoring in the US over the last 100 years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A good tip for becoming more efficient with infographic\u00a0design (by spending less time on brainstorming the next great dataviz idea) is\u00a0by developing a visual strategy for common types of data. For instance, if you need to show the number of people who do something as opposed to\u00a0those who do not, or the variation in certain statistics for different\u00a0geographic locations. In cases like these, reliable visualizations include\u00a0silhouettes and maps, respectively.<\/p>\n This is not to say that you should stop being creative. By\u00a0all means, if you find you can visualize your people or country data in a more\u00a0compelling, effective and creative way, go for it. However, there\u2019s nothing\u00a0wrong with having a back-up plan!<\/p>\n In the cut-outs below, you can see silhouettes representing the number of Americans who own iPods and maps displaying the employment statistics for different regions in Great Britain. Clearly you could use silhouettes just as well for people who own cars and maps for GDP amounts of all the African countries.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Take a look at these five visual associations that can be incorporated into your infographics.<\/p>\n Designing infographics becomes an even bigger challenge if\u00a0you have to come up with clever copy and analogies. If\u00a0you are not good at wordplay or drawing interesting associations, it is best to leave\u00a0them to a copywriter or a marketing expert.<\/span><\/p>\n If, however, you are asked to produce your own analogies and\u00a0humor for the infographic, start by viewing the infographic as the target\u00a0audience would and think about how they would connect more to it.<\/p>\n Can a comparison make a certain statistic more accessible or\u00a0appealing?<\/p>\n \u201cThe number of Facebook\u00a0users is equal to the entire population of the US\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n Would the infographic benefit from a humorous pop culture\u00a0reference?<\/p>\n \u201cWe had our factories\u00a0thoroughly cleaned 6 times this year. That\u2019s more times than Lindsay Lohan\u2019s<\/span> been to rehab\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n Asking questions like this can help you in designing the\u00a0verbal aspect of your infographic. But as you can probably tell, coming up with\u00a0associations and jokes for infographics is a tricky business. Don\u2019t attempt\u00a0them unless you are sure they work.<\/p>\n Here is some historical\/political humor in an infographic about cats.<\/p>\n We all want infographics to be visually arresting eye-candy\u00a0but there are certain aesthetic restrictions you will need to consider\u00a0depending on the purpose and target audience.<\/p>\n If you are designing an\u00a0infographic on the history of the Disney brand, bright cartoonish illustrations\u00a0are to be expected. However, if you are designing an infographic highlighting corporate\u00a0successes in the past fiscal year for distribution to potential investors, you should\u00a0resist neon colors and inappropriate humor.<\/p>\n Cartoon illustrations and bright colors are appropriate for this Disney VS Marvel infographic.<\/p>\n BP’s infographic about Relief Wells and Subsea containment uses a sombre black and blue palette.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ceblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Process-Board-Employment-Statistics.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n2. Know when to go all the way out – and when to keep it simple
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n3. Tell a story through organization
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n4. Build your personal list of easy and reliable visual associations<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n5. Be clever and humorous. But make sure you succeed.
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/a><\/p>\n6. Keep the purpose and tone in mind
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/a><\/p>\n