"[…] a graphic with loose, incomplete information that is too verbose, vague or passive can actually impede your audience’s ability to make sense of the information at hand. If the graphic confuses or frustrates the audience, you’re likely to do more harm than good, leave them with more questions than answers and essentially turn them away from your publication." (Jennifer George-Palilonis," A Practical Guide to Graphics Reporting: Information Graphics for Print, Web & Broadcast", 2006)
"Actually composing an information graphic - putting all of the pieces together in a rhythmic, orderly, interesting design - is equal in importance to writing the text and creating the main illustrations. In fact, the design of the graphic can have a direct impact on an audience’s ability to follow the information that is presented in an efficient and logical manner. Design can also affect the level of meaning and understanding an audience will take away from the graphic. Thus, understanding how to compose/design an information graphic is paramount to a graphics reporter’s ability to succeed." (Jennifer George-Palilonis," A Practical Guide to Graphics Reporting: Information Graphics for Print, Web & Broadcast", 2006)
"An infographic’s headline should summarize the main point of the presentation. Any introductory text or 'chatter' should explain the most newsworthy information within the context of the visual story being told; i.e., is the what of the story most important? Is the how of the story most important?, etc." (Jennifer George-Palilonis," A Practical Guide to Graphics Reporting: Information Graphics for Print, Web & Broadcast", 2006)
"Believe it or not, it’s easy to make statistics lie. It’s called massaging the facts, and people do it all the time. […] To avoid this, graphics reporters should develop a keen eye for spotting problems with statistics in order to avoid the embarrassment and possible liability of reporting incorrect information." (Jennifer George-Palilonis," A Practical Guide to Graphics Reporting: Information Graphics for Print, Web & Broadcast", 2006)
"Graphics should be planned, written and developed to stand alone. Even when a graphic is accompanied by a story, we can’t always count on the reader to get that far. Scanning readers often don’t engage with stories at all. Rather, they browse the page, often reading only display type and visual elements. And, even those who intend to read the story often engage with the graphics first because they tend to be more eye-catching. In both cases, you simply can’t create a graphic that isn’t complete without the story. Readers should finish an information graphic feeling confident that they understand the information it presents. This isn’t to say that you must tell the entire story with the graphic. However, the portions of the story that are represented in the graphic must be complete and clear." (Jennifer George-Palilonis," A Practical Guide to Graphics Reporting: Information Graphics for Print, Web & Broadcast", 2006)
"Just as rhythm in music can move you to dance, sway or tap your foot, visual rhythm is the combination and arrangement of elements that moves your eyes through a graphic presentation. Visual rhythm can be achieved by repeating patterns that are similar in size, shape or color, by alternating elements that contrast one another in some way or by placing elements in a manner that creates progression, such as small to large or light to dark." (Jennifer George-Palilonis," A Practical Guide to Graphics Reporting: Information Graphics for Print, Web & Broadcast", 2006)
"Look for comparisons, dates or other organizational facts outlined in the story. Who are the key players, and why? What are the key dates? How did we get here? Where do we go from here? What’s at issue, and what does it mean for the reader? These types of questions often lead to discovering graphics potential for a story, and by presenting the answers in a graphic manner, you provide readers with a quickly accessible and easily understood context for the rest of the story." (Jennifer George-Palilonis," A Practical Guide to Graphics Reporting: Information Graphics for Print, Web & Broadcast", 2006)
"Make use of a simple data metaphor. Regardless of the concept you are trying to convey with an information graphic, you must make sure that the visual metaphor (i.e., a circle to represent a whole, as with a pie chart) be clear and logical. Don’t get so caught up in being clever that you make illogical comparisons or use unclear metaphors. In other words, don’t make your readers have to think too hard to get the point. They’ll appreciate you for it!" (Jennifer George-Palilonis," A Practical Guide to Graphics Reporting: Information Graphics for Print, Web & Broadcast", 2006)
"Proportion is important to information graphics because it helps create a sense of hierarchy and order among the elements. […] Proportion is also achieved by incorporating elements of varying sizes or shapes in a layout. This practice allows us to compare them to one another and make visual judgments about their relative sizes and shapes or proportion. Adhering to proportional size and shape relationships will result in a more interesting overall visual effect than if all elements are more or less the same size. Proportion is also useful in contributing to a sense of depth." (Jennifer George-Palilonis," A Practical Guide to Graphics Reporting: Information Graphics for Print, Web & Broadcast", 2006)
"[…] rhythm can be achieved in a variety of different ways. Asymmetrical balance is most commonly used in the design of graphics because it is the most effective way to move the eye around a graphic. Repetition in the placement of like elements or even the same element can also establish rhythm in a graphic. The similarity of the elements makes a visual connection for the eye and moves it from one to the next. Chronological, numerical or alphabetic placement of elements is also a simple way to create rhythm. This placement creates an obvious order for the eye to follow. Finally, integrating visual elements that are directional in nature often helps lead the eye in a specific direction. This could be something as simple as the use of an arrow in a design." (Jennifer George-Palilonis," A Practical Guide to Graphics Reporting: Information Graphics for Print, Web & Broadcast", 2006)
"Specific numbers, visual descriptions of objects or events and identifiable locations don’t always jump out, and a graphic may not always present itself right away. A good graphics reporter will often discover graphics potential in less obvious ways. Is the explanation in a story getting bogged down and hard to follow? If so, can the information be organized differently? Perhaps in a more graphic manner? Is there information that hat can be conveyed conceptually to put a thought or idea into a more visual perspective? Visual metaphors (or 'data metaphors' in the case of mathematical or quantifiable information) often make it easier for people to digest information." (Jennifer George-Palilonis," A Practical Guide to Graphics Reporting: Information Graphics for Print, Web & Broadcast", 2006)
"Text should provide the information and context that visuals cannot. By their nature, visuals can be ambiguous; well-written sentences are not. Infographics - whether statistical, cartographic or diagrammatic - are meant to demonstrate data visually and holistically. So the visuals in an infographic should do as much explanatory 'lifting' as possible, allowing words only to qualify, specify, summarize and organize." (Jennifer George-Palilonis," A Practical Guide to Graphics Reporting: Information Graphics for Print, Web & Broadcast", 2006)
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