Three Guidelines for a Great Infographic
Effective infographics are challenging to create. The most successful infographics not only display important information and data, but they do it in a way that is visually interesting and simple. Both the data and the design need to be compelling. The best infographics level the playing field between analysts and the public, bringing complex information to a reasonable comprehension level. The next time you’re creating an infographic, consider the following tips from The Best American Infographis 2013:
1. Reflect the subject matter in every design element.
Wind Map was an ambitious infographic: It shows the what the wind is doing across the country in near-real time. That’s right. If you’re wondering whether it’s a good day to go surfing in the Pacific or just how brutal the Windy City’s namesake weather condition is before you leave the house, this infographic has you covered. Hell, they’ve gotten fan mail from scientists who track butterfly migration, so you know it’s going to work for whatever you need to know. But in order to keep from overwhelming viewers with an infographic that’s constantly in motion, the designers chose a muted, monochrome palette. They also were conscious of how much information they wanted to display. In the end, they created an infographic that’s easy to read and understand.
[divider_smooth] 3. Use the design to tell the story.
And the Oscar Goes to…New York City is a fearless depiction of how people in New York City view the world map: NYC is both hugely important and the center of the world. I jest… The infographic here actually depicts how many Oscar-nominated films were shot in various locations. While New York City steals the show overall, California, the U.K./London, France/Paris and New England all give it a run for its money. The best part, however, is that the shape and size of each location gives the reader information without forcing them to dive in. Even from a distance, people understand that some places have more Oscar nominations than others. I don’t need to look closely to see that NYC-shot films have a good chance of taking home a little gold statue, but if I want to know more than that, I can look closely and see other locales that set the scene in some kick-ass movies. The authors here do a good job of creating an infographic where the design—not the text—is the real star.
[divider_smooth] Need help creating a visually interesting and informative infographic? Valiant can help. Give us a shout – 972-390-7410. Or, send us an email at help@valiantdesigners.com.
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