2. Definition
Infographics = information graphics
“graphic visual representations of information, data* or knowledge.
These graphics present complex information quickly and clearly”
- Wikipedia
*aka data visualisation
Bar charts and maps, line graphs, pie charts, system diagrams, tables…
Page 2 | Infographics | April 2012
3. Purpose
Shifts the balance between perception and cognition to take fuller
advantage of the brain's abilities
Page 3 | Infographics | April 2012
4. Principles
Proximity Objects that are close
together are perceived as a
group
Similarity Objects that share similar
attributes (e.g. color or shape)
are perceived as a group
Connection Objects that are connected
(e.g. by a line) are
perceived as a group
Page 4 | Infographics | April 2012
5. Principles
Enclosure Objects that appear to have a
boundary around them (e.g.
formed by a line or area of
common colour) are perceived
as a group
Closure Open structures are perceived
as closed, complete, and
regular whenever there is a
way that they can reasonably
be interpreted as such
Continuity Objects that are aligned
together or appear to be a
continuation of one another
are perceived as a group
Connection Objects that are connected
(e.g. by a line) are perceived
as a group
Page 5 | Infographics | April 2012
7. Origins
Cave paintings!
Maps pre-date writing by several millennia
An early infographic that made a difference…
In 1857, English nurse Florence Nightingale used information graphics
persuading Queen Victoria to improve conditions in military
hospitals, principally the Coxcomb chart, a combination of stacked
bar and pie charts, depicting the number and causes of deaths during
each month of the Crimean War.
Page 7 | Infographics | April 2012
10. Research centric
Lauren Manning, a New York based designer, explores
various methods to visualise one single data set for her
thesis. Food Consumed:
“It’s like comparing apples to oranges.” This phrase is the
best way to describe the current state of data
visualizations. …Instead of seeing many excellent
visualizations of all different data sets, what if you could
see tons of visualizations of the same data set? What
new comparisons, knowledge and structure might be
developed from this?
Page 10 | Infographics | April 2012
11. Research centric
Lauren Manning, a New York based designer, explores
various methods to visualise one single data set for her
thesis. Food Consumed:
“It’s like comparing apples to oranges.” This phrase is the best way
to describe the current state of data visualizations. …Instead of
seeing many excellent visualizations of all different data sets, what if
you could see tons of visualizations of the same data set? What new
comparisons, knowledge and structure might be developed from
this?
Page 11 | Infographics | April 2012
15. Attributed to multiple sources
Blog data comes from a variety of online sources, including
LiveJournal, MSN Spaces, MySpace, Blogger, Flickr, Technorati,
Feedster, Ice Rocket, and Google.
Page 15 | Infographics | April 2012
16. RSPCA Freedom Food sales data visualisation
We produced assets to
reach out to bloggers
and online influencers,
providing visuals to
support a statistics
based PR story.
Very successful
campaign results for
RSPCA.
Page 16 | Infographics | April 2012
17. Channel 4 ‘Ask the Chancellors’ debate
Page 17 | Infographics | April 2012
Cave paintings! Maps pre-date writing 1857 Florence Nightingale persuaded Queen Victoria to improve conditions in military hospitals – the Coxcomb chart – stacked bar and pie charts showing deaths during Crimean war
NixonMcInnes produced an infographic to distil a whole televised debate into key differences between the pre-election chancellors, for influencers and communities to share virally.
Originally used by Channel 4 to support their ‘How to save £100 billion’ special, the channel will use it again with a controversial new drama breaking in the New Year to enhance their viewing experience in a ‘two screen’ world.
Originally used by Channel 4 to support their ‘How to save £100 billion’ special, the channel will use it again with a controversial new drama breaking in the New Year to enhance their viewing experience in a ‘two screen’ world.
Originally used by Channel 4 to support their ‘How to save £100 billion’ special, the channel will use it again with a controversial new drama breaking in the New Year to enhance their viewing experience in a ‘two screen’ world.
