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Infographics: Data, Aesthetics, Function


Recently, created an infographic/handout to accompany Terry Kelly’s presentation on CBECE’s technology assessment survey for the upcoming KS tech conference. Having interned at a newspaper in 19XX, I was under the misapprehension that I knew infographics. However after receiving notes from Dorothy about an infographic Robin and I created for the KSDL newsletter in December, I realized I had a lot to learn. After some research, I found out that although the general idea of an infographic has remained the same, the aesthetic and dynamism of an infographic has grown and expanded.
Earlier infographics were a simple, fun way to represent numbers or statistics and create visual interest on an otherwise printed page as an accompaniment to an article. Contemporary infographics are often stand-alone illustrations that integrate several types of information, including histories, concepts, and processes. Through reading a bunch of online articles (see links to the most useful below),here are a few key points I have concluded:
1. An infographic is, most importantly, data driven, with aesthetics as a close second.
An infographic is, at its most primary, a picture representation of statistics, ideas, or processes. Though the illustration is important, the data is the key component. Without data, it is merely a picture. That being said, elegance in design helps people understand that data.


Any notes would be appreciated. Mahalo!

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