"Information graphics — or infographics — are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge. These graphics present complex information quickly and clearly, such as in signs, maps, journalism, technical writing, and education."
An infographic combines data visualization and illustration to communicate, inform, persuade or even indulge in a little humor.
Basic types of information graphics
There are two types of infographics: objective and subjective.
Objective graphics present information without bias in such a way that the reader can draw his/her own conclusions. They are intended to educate or even document events. In an objective infographic, all data and points of view are represented equally.
Subjective graphics are often intended to be persuasive and may have an agenda. Information may be edited or left out altogether. This is not necessarily bad -- simply be aware of bias inherent to the graphic.
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| New America Foundation/Good/DeepLocal |
Statistical literacy
Before you embark on creating an information graphic, understand your data completely or risk misinforming your reader.
"Statistical literacy is more than learning the laws of statistics; it is about representations that the human mind can understand and remember. … If you design a visualization before correctly understanding the data on which it is based, you face the very real risk of summarizing incorrectly, producing faulty insights, or otherwise mangling the process of disseminating knowledge. If you do this to your audience, then you have violated an expectation of singular importance for any content creator: their expectation that you actually know what you’re talking about. …
"Unfortunately, curing statistical illiteracy isn’t as easy as reading an article about it or even taking a statistics course. While a solid understanding of statistics is beneficial for a wide variety of purposes, countering statistical illiteracy requires the cultivation of an active interpretative technique that is separate from knowledge of pure mathematics.
"Statistical literacy is only the bare minimum, though. The burden on designers is heavier because their uses of data often require them to go beyond interpretation and to perform some basic analysis, summarization or transformation of data. However, a formal education in research methods is probably too extreme. I believe that most mistakes of data could have been avoided had the designers focused on a limited skill set that is to a media producer what statistical literacy is to a media consumer. For now, let’s call this data mindfulness.
"Mindfulness means exhibiting care, caution, exactness, prudence, regard and many other virtues. Data mindfulness is similar to someone imploring another to “be mindful” of something potentially dangerous. As a designer, you can be careful about the sources of data you choose and can be cautious of the claims you make based on that data. Your exactness is reflected in the effort you put into correctly transforming the original data. Your prudence relates to whether you are honest in your intent and methods. But regard comes closest to the concept of data mindfulness: to be mindful of your data—to avoid mistakes with it and prevent the harm that would result from such mistakes—you should regard it with respect." [1]
The author of the above article, recommends you understand your data, "Mind, Body and Soul," by asking the following of your data:
- How was it collected?
- What are its limitations?
- Which mathematical transformations are appropriate?
- Which methods of display are appropriate?
- Who collected it?
- Why was it collected?
- What is its context in a broader subject?
- What is its context in the field of research that created it?
Infoporn
Along with avoiding misleading the reader, avoid creating infoporn: graphics that appear to have organization or hierarchy, but lack meaningful content. These graphics pretend to confer information, but no conclusions can be drawn from the presentation.
What makes a good infographic?
Infographics take on many shapes and forms, from tables and charts to complex illustrations, but any good infographic
- Will have a meaningful relationship between content and form (presentation)
- Will suggest or allow high-level conclusions to be drawn from either a user-defined (objective) or persuasive (subjective) presentation
- Can stand on its own
- Cites data source(s) for legitimacy
- Shows accurate comparisons (see cookie graph above)
- Is clearly titled, labeled and captioned
Be guided by the Principles for the Analysis and Presentation of Data [2]
When making an information graphic:
- Show comparison, contrasts, differences. Compared to what? Evaluate. Make intelligent and appropriate comparisons.
- Show causality, mechanism, explanation, systematic structure. Explain why.
- Show multivariate data. The only thing that is two dimensional about evidence is the presentation. We live in a multivariate world (3+ dimensions/variables).
- Completely integrate words, numbers, images, diagrams. How can something be explained? Integrate the diversity of evidence. Present all relevant evidence regardless of mode.
- Documentation. Thoroughly describe the evidence, provide detailed title, authors, sponsors. Document the data sources, show complete measurement scales, point out relevant issues. Transparency equals trust.
- Content matters most of all. Analytical presentation ultimately stand or fall depending on the quality, relevance and integrity of their content.
When making an information graphic:
- Start with good data
- Set a clear goal or ask a good question
- Understand your data
- Organize the information
- Ask yourself what it is you want people to understand from reading your graphic. Can the reader obtain high-level information from your graphic?
- Avoid the look of objectivity if the goal of the graphic is to be persuasive (in other words, be honest)
References and further reading
[1] "Imagine A Pie Chart Stomping On An Infographic Forever" by Eronarn, Smashingmagazine.com, May 10, 2010. http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/05/10/imagine-a-pie-chart-stomping-on-an-infographic-forever/ Includes a a gallery of infographical travesties.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_graphics
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Information_graphics
Books by Edward R Tufte available in the HSU Library:
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