Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

An infographic (or information graphic) is a visual explanation – for example, a chart, map, or diagram – that aids in the comprehension of text-based content. The infographic designer does not merely illustrate given information, but must actively interpret given content in order to present it in a manner that effectively visually communicates to the viewer. A designer does this by progressing through a number of steps, each time further processing and refining information (→  Design ; Graphic Design ). Rajamanickam (2005) identifies three steps in the design of infographics : first, the designer must clearly understand what type of information is being communicated (spatial, chronological, quantitative, or a combination of all three); second, the designer must conceive of a suitable representation for that information as a cohesive whole (a whole that is more than the sum of its constituent parts, such as charts, diagrams, maps, timelines, etc.); and third, the designer must choose an appropriate medium for presentation (static, moving, or interactive). For example, this information may be a set of instructions, e.g., how to exit a building; it may be the visual explanation of a complex verbal concept, e.g., the science of how light is reflected by a mirror; it may be the visual companion of verbal content, e.g., a map of a country displaying the distribution of votes for ... log in or subscribe to read full text