Infographics

**garricks** · 01-16-2009, 12:54 PM

I recommend this book:
Edward R. Tufte (1983). The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Edition, Cheshire, CT: Graphics Press.

I also highly recommend "How to Lie with Statistics" for any statistical illustration that needs done.

mojoprime · 01-16-2009, 02:20 PM

i would also look around on newspaper websites, at the print versions of their editions, and also at magazines like Time and Newsweek, that use a lot of infographics. The USA Today is also a good example, but their results are either really good or really bad.

making infographics is a niche thing in design. to do them well, you need to understand (in the case of financial or data-driven graphics) a little statistical analysis, to be able to sort through all of the figures and find what's truly important for the reader (and for the story) and then the best way to present that. often, reporters and writers have a far different view of what they want to show vs. what is statistically accurate. since readers will tend to read your graphic (and not necessarily the copy) it's very important for you to be as accurate and truthful (i.e., don't skew the baseline) as possible.

been doing infographics for over 15 years. i had an excellent, excellent teacher. it really does help.

mojoprime · 01-16-2009, 02:29 PM

in addition to statistical graphics, the "process" graphics or maps (how computers are made, how a murder was committed, locator maps) are critically important to be accurate. if you don't understand exactly how something was done or where it is, and are able to legibly and reliably convey that to the reader, then you ain't doing your job. and listen to your inner voice. if something tells you after you proof it that it's not quite there or still a little unclear, then rework it until it is. remember, you understand the situation perfectly (or close), but your reader doesn't have the luxury of your perspective.

rss683 · 01-16-2009, 06:22 PM

thanks alot!

doing infographics for 15 years is very impressive, I had to do one last semester in school and well they can be very difficult. I was assigned to do 2 infographs about ME. so I am pretty sure I know all the information haha, just doing the layouts is the tough part.

Thanks again.

**garricks** · 01-16-2009, 08:24 PM

Wow, mojo, I didn't know you've been doing them that long! Have you read "How to Lie with Statistics?" I think you'd get a kick out of it. It's humerous, and of course teaches how NOT to lie with statistics.

mojoprime · 01-16-2009, 08:46 PM

yeah, freakin crazy, is what it is. i've turned into such a nerd about them it's scary. they fascinate me just because it's like a direct application of what we do: you literally are plugged directly into the reader, feeding them exactly the heart of the story or something that's too difficult to explain in words but easy to do with a little text and some images.

you know, i've got one book, and i haven't read it. but i'll check out the one your recommend, thanks!!! it really, really, really helps to work with someone who's a pro at them. they get you thinking about the raw data, and the get you thinking about the best way to present it. it's like apprenticing again. the ones that time, newsweek and the grand daddy of them all, national geographic, do are simply awesome. the big thing now is to use 3d modeling and create photorealistic elements. ok, i'm pretty much a 2d kind of guy but i can totally appreciate that level of skill.

i need to check out that book. thanks again for pointing me to it.

**garricks** · 01-16-2009, 08:56 PM

They're probably both in the library. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information is a coffee-table-size book and contains Minard's chart of Napoleon's invasion of Russia:

You can see a high-quality image at Wikipedia, along with translations of the text.

In a single graphic Minard shows the number of troops (and therefore the catastrophic losses), the direction (it's a map, too), the temperature, the date and a couple of other things I'm forgetting. It's pretty durned amazing.

mojoprime · 01-16-2009, 09:03 PM

hee hee. that's awesome!

no, if there was a graphic that showed arrogance relative to the temperature compared to the distance traveled closer to moscow, they'd have it perfect.

if you showed quantum stupidity and karma, you'd have hitler's path along the very same route. couldn't have happened to a nicer, more deserving dickhead.

**garricks** · 01-16-2009, 09:16 PM

Originally posted by mojoprime View Post

no, if there was a graphic that showed arrogance relative to the temperature compared to the distance traveled closer to moscow, they'd have it perfect.

LOL! I think that's implied by the width of the line, which shows the number of living, breathing troops. Oh, and the mood ring color change from brown to black on the return trip.

About Hitler, ITA.

To RSS, if it doesn't reveal too much personal information, post it when you finish it! I'd like to see what you do.

mojoprime · 01-16-2009, 09:32 PM

^yeah, it would be awesome to see.

mojoprime · 01-16-2009, 09:34 PM

^brown to black might indicate the level of gangrene on the rotting appendages of napolean's troops.

**garricks** · 01-16-2009, 09:36 PM

Eeeeeewwww!

mojoprime · 01-16-2009, 09:46 PM

sorry.

man, i just looked at that graphic. it's a little confusing, but pretty well done for 1869, especially considering he had to do all the research and measurement himself. wow. i'm impressed.

geeze, can you imagine what that hell would have been like? i mean, those temperatures are like -35F and lower. marching. in the snow. without goretex or proper coverings. without MREs. with flintlock guns, i;m assuming. i'm surprised you could get a spark to fire a gun.

wow. ain't war hell?

**garricks** · 01-16-2009, 10:02 PM

NP, man, remember, I work in healthcare. I could really gross you out with some of the pics I've used!

Yeah, war IS hell, and that particular campaign was ill-informed and brutal.

Infographics

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