The increased interest in information graphics has also brought increased debate over their use, abuse and effectiveness. Connie Malamed over at Understanding Graphics even questions the correct usage of the terms “infographics,” noting that most of the time, “infoposter” is more appropriate. (I even use the term “data collage” in certain cases.)
There is no question that infographics and data visualizations are becoming powerful communication tools in journalism, online and in business. One of my colleagues credits the creation of an infographic for one of our client’s products with getting an important news article placed in a major national paper. The infographic itself was never printed, but it successfully “sold” the story to the newspaper.
NiemanWatchdog.org recently criticized and cautioned the media for misuse of infographics in covering the Bin Laden killing. They rightly point out that just because you’re drawing a picture instead of using words, you still can’t make stuff up. (Would you make up sales numbers if you used a bar chart instead of prose?) They laid out 6 rules journalists and the media should follow in using infographics.
Chartjunk Dustup
Stephen Few is one of the leading voices in data design and his books and site are must-reads. He is a passionate advocate for simplicity and clarity in charts, and he recently reignited a debate over whether there actually is any merit in the type of chartjunk that Edward Tufte rails against.
Last year a group of researchers published a study arguing that embellished USA Today-like charts and graphs are actually more “sticky” and communicative to a reader than Few’s/Tufte’s more spartan styles.
Stephen wrote a critical article respectfully taking exception to the methodologies and findings of the researchers.
If you’re not Tufte-d out, both Few’s article and the original study, are worth a read. Plus, Bruce Gabrielle gives a nice summative overview of the study and its problems at SpeakingPPT.
Few vs. McCandless
Stephen also ruffled a few feathers by criticizing on his blog the work and style of David McCandless. There were a lot of comments back and forth on Stephen’s post and even more in a post on Flowing Data, one of the top sites dedicated to information design.
If you’re not familiar with McCandless’ work, a good introduction is his TED talk.
* * *
Well, for what it’s worth, I agree with Stephen Few‘s work and approach. I love David McCandless‘s style. I respect Edward Tufte, and I also admire Nigel Holmes, whose work is often held up as representative of needless chartjunk and embellishment. (But yes, Nigel, you do need to work on that website of yours…)
All that said, I disagree with all of them to varying degrees when it comes to certain things. But I’m glad there is so much passion and that the debate is so lively! Information design is a continually and rapidly developing discipline that holds great promise. I’m seeing firsthand major companies desperate to be able to visually communicate their stories elegantly, succinctly and smartly. Hardly a day goes by now in which the word “infographic” is not part of some conversation at work.
And I’m not even going to go into “Big Data,” a tidal wave of an issue McKinsey just released a large report about.
Oh, and by the way, I’m hiring a full-time information designer…know anyone?
This whole deal with infographics is getting out of hand.
Just a few years ago information designers who specialized in data design were either creating reports or worked in litigation demonstratives. I was one of the latter. My job was to visually depict complex information so that folks in the jury box who didn't have any prior experience with the topic would still understand what the experts were talking about. And it was not a popular thing to be doing.
Now anyone who knows how to plot a graph claims they can create infographics. Information design requires a certain level of analytical and problem solving as its' sole purpose is to make information easy to understand. It's as if a scientist was also a designer.
The purpose of an infographic should be to help someone understand a piece of information though visual representation. It's not as simple as designing information or data so it looks good and makes it an attractive marketing piece. Today it seems like any piece of text/data slapped together with some pictures in a long rectangular format is labeled as an infographic. This is what I call "fluffographics". They are graphics that fluff boring information into an attractive visual. 99% of them would not fall into the info design category.
I don't consider visuals an infographic unless they actually HELP in understanding content.
This whole deal with infographics is getting out of hand.
Just a few years ago information designers who specialized in data design were either creating reports or worked in litigation demonstratives. I was one of the latter. My job was to visually depict complex information so that folks in the jury box who didn't have any prior experience with the topic would still understand what the experts were talking about. And it was not a popular thing to be doing.
Now anyone who knows how to plot a graph claims they can create infographics. Information design requires a certain level of analytical and problem solving as its' sole purpose is to make information easy to understand. It's as if a scientist was also a designer.
The purpose of an infographic should be to help someone understand a piece of information though visual representation. It's not as simple as designing information or data so it looks good and makes it an attractive marketing piece. Today it seems like any piece of text/data slapped together with some pictures in a long rectangular format is labeled as an infographic. This is what I call "fluffographics". They are graphics that fluff boring information into an attractive visual. 99% of them would not fall into the info design category.
I don't consider visuals an infographic unless they actually HELP in understanding content.
I knew the topic would inspire passionate opinions!
I love the term "fluffographics," and there certainly are a glut of them. I agree that data visualization is an art and science and those who do it well like you have an understanding of the content—in the same way that a good presentation designer actually reads and understands the content before designing.
But by defining an "infographic" as something that helps in understanding content, aren't you opening things up way too much? By that definition, a simple venn diagram is an infographic if it replaces a paragraph of text. And a single stock photo is an infographic if it replaces a 1,000 words…
Many infographics are decoration over communication (did you see the one on conference speakers in this month's Fast Company…), but I'm honestly kind of energized watching corporate America (at least from my perch) starting to get religion on visual communication. Of course, here be dragons, but at least people are off and exploring…?
I should have been more specific. And perhaps I should have said useful instead of helpful since something can be helpful in understanding a topic but it might not be needed to comprehend the information in its raw form.
When I say they [infographics] should help in understanding content I meant that in the context of information design…content that by itself is complex, unorganized or unstructured. Infographics are essentially byproducts of information design. It's preparing raw information so that it can be understood and used effectively.
For example… creating a map of the subway system would fall under information design. As the graphic becomes something that is helpful and useful for someone and explaining the routes through written or spoken word alone will most likely be confusing.
An information designer doesn't simply create a nice looking graphic, they look at the data/information, and design it in a way to extrapolate the meaning/context.
I always say that the best compliment an information designer can get is to hear someone say… this is really useful for me to understand this particular concept. That's what inforgraphics SHOULD do.
I'm going to recommend two books on this subject:
1. The information design handbook, O'Grady
2. Information Design Workbook, Baer
Both of them wonderfully explain what exactly information design is and have lots of examples for inspiration.
I think we agree!
I've read Baer's book (which I liked a lot), but don't have O'Grady's on my shelf yet. I'll definitely fix that. Thanks for the rec.
I think we agree!
I've read Baer's book (which I liked a lot), but don't have O'Grady's on my shelf yet. I'll definitely fix that. Thanks for the rec.