We use the term “data visualization” as the overarching word for all this stuff. What “stuff” are we talking about? We’re talking about any graphic that displays and explains information, whether that be data or words. When we use the term “data visualization,” we’re using it as a general term used to describe data presented in a visual way.
Why Infographics Are Unique
To us, infographics are different because information graphics have a flow to them. They’re data visualizations that present complex information quickly and clearly. Think of maps, signs, and charts used by statisticians or computer scientists: Wherever you have deep data presented in visual shorthand, you’ve got an infographic.
Infographics are important because they change the way people find and experience stories or presentations — especially now, when more and more infographics are being used to augment editorial content on the web. Infographics create a new way of seeing the world of data, and they help communicate complex ideas in a clear and beautiful way.
The Usefulness of Infographics
As the world gets more complex and more data emerges, information graphics are more useful than ever. Data visualization design often deals with an enormous amount of data, with the goal of discovering patterns. Huge amounts of data are very difficult to sort through, but infographics make information presentable and digestible to a general audience.
An easy-to-read illustration helps tell a story and makes data points easier to understand. And it doesn’t hurt when infographics are not only clear and straightforward, but also beautiful and engaging. The aesthetic design draws the viewer in; the information helps the viewer analyze and understand the data being presented.
Key Elements
So, taking into account all the caveats about overlap that we’ve outlined above, what are the elements that make up an infographic? They are visualizations that:
1. present complex information quickly and clearly
2. integrate words and graphics to reveal information, patterns or trends
3. are easier to understand than words alone
4. are beautiful and engaging
Now that we’ve (sort of) defined our terms, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. In the pages that follow, we’ll talk about things like the history of infographics and the different types of infographics: from traditional static infographics to interactive infographics that allow users to explore a dataset for themselves. We’ll get into ways of creating an infographic, and even offer tips on how to increase the chance your information graphic will go viral ‘ like our “What Are the Odds?” infographic (below) that’s been viewed over a million times.
Need help creating infographics? Contact Visually. We are so confident in the talent of our community and the level of service from our Marketplace Experience team that we offer a satisfaction guarantee.
