BACKGROUND

Began with Oxford College’s web redesign:

http://oxford.emory.edu/about/quick-facts.html

Other examples: CIRP Survey infographics posters

Had lots of data that needed wider circulation

Had student workers who were interested in design and doing

cool things with data

Higher-end data-visualization tools too labor-intensive for

easier projects that need good graphics

Data visualization tools don’t have graphic-design level

graphics

IS THAT REALLY YOUR JOB?

I’m not a graphic designer, but…My job does include presenting data to a variety of

audiences

My job does include generating interest in data

I can’t present data in person to everyone who might be interested in it

My office doesn’t have a graphic designer---and offices that do might not be as data-savvy or as serious about getting the data right

AREN’T INFOGRAPHICS JUST DATA VISUALIZATION?

Infographics Data Visualization

Narrative focus Non-contextual

Limited analytic capability Extensive analytic capability

Bespoke for a particular dataset;

requires customization

Easy to change out dataset once

created; limited graphics options

Best for non-expert audiences Best for audiences who have some

familiarity with your topic

Good when you don’t have audience

attention for very long

Better when you expect full audience

attention

Persuasive and appealing More objective and left to

interpretation

Source: https://visage.co/throwdown-data-visualization-vs-infographics/

USE INFOGRAPHICS WHEN YOU:

Already have summary data

Are addressing a general audience

Don’t have extensive/exhaustive data

Want to organize the data for your audience

Are trying to persuade/influence

Want wide circulation for your data and/or want to

promote your data

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD INFOGRAPHICS

Interesting/engaging topic and data

Appears to be educational

Not too short or too information-dense

Creative design elements incorporated in data

presentation

Good use of space; information-dense but not

jumbled

Clear takeaway message

Often incorporate brand graphic identity

Give data sources

INFOGRAPHICS TOOLS

• Canva: https://www.canva.com

• Piktochart:

https://magic.piktochart.com/dashboar

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• Venngage: https://venngage.com/

• Infogr.am https://infogr.am/

OVERALL COMPARISON OF TOOLS

TOOL Canva Piktochart Venngage Infogr.am

Free account

details

A multitude of layouts

and icons availableOnly ten layouts

available, many

icons

Limited to 5

infographics with free

account; no export.

Limited icons, all your

work public

Price $9.95/mo. annually or

$12.95/mo. monthly

Additional layouts,

images etc. available

for a few dollars each

Lite: $15/mo.

Pro: $29/mo.

Premium: $19/mo.

Business: $49/mo.

Pro: $19/mo.

Business: $67/mo.

Features Many photos, shapes,

icons, & typography

Minimal graphs. Can

upload images.

Some photos, shapes,

text options. Many

icons & graph options

such as maps. Can

upload images.

Very few free

infographics

templates, not very

attractive graphics

Many graph options

Many icons only

available in paid

versions

Privacy Private account with

choice to share projects

with team or make

projects public

Private account with

choice to make

projects public

Have the option to

share online. Can

download in paid

version.

All work public on

free account except

in paid version.

Team options Can invite up to 10

people to your team

None; coming soon in

new Pro Team versionOnly in Business

version

Only in Business

version

Training/Support Extensive tutorials Brief tour Blog Intro video

Customization Limited to initial shape

of page, can add pages

but not change edges

Work in blocks with

moveable edgesCan change complete

page size, move

layout

Limited

maneuverability,

strict layout

CANVA PROS AND CONS

High-end design elements and templates

Very limited graphing options

However, can upload your own content, including graphs

Lots of icons, many are free

If you don’t want to pay by the month, you can purchase

individual design elements

Can make a team to share your work (even with free account!)

Can’t adjust page size

Some graph types weren’t based on actual data; you had to

adjust and label manually

https://www.canva.com/

PIKTOCHART PROS AND CONS

Attractive design elements and templates

Better graphing options than Canva

Can upload your own content

Not as many icons as Canva

Can’t make a team to share projects (although they say this

functionality is coming in a premium paid version)

Can adjust page size

Has amazing number of maps!

Can imbed video in a project for web

https://magic.piktochart.com/dashboard

RESOURCES

• Beegel, Justin. 2014. Infographics for

Dummies.

• Krum, Randy. 2013. Cool Infographics:

Effective Communication with Data

Visualization and Design.

• Lankow, Jason, et.al. 2012. Infographics:

The Power of Visual Storytelling.