explaining the unexplainable: infographics thale dillon director, montana kids count bureau of...

Explaining the Unexplainable:INFOGRAPHICS

Thale DillonDirector, Montana KIDS

COUNTBureau of Business & Economic

ResearchUniversity of Montana--Missoula

“Infographics are essentiallyany combination of informationand image used to tell a storyby visually representing data”.(IdealWare)

What is anINFOGRAPHIC?

The purpose of infographics is to transform data into eye-catching, creative and accessible visuals that make viewers interested enough to care about your data.

Why use INFOGRAPHICS?

When doesit make sense

to use INFOGRAPHICS?

Not easilyshared

Easily

shared

SHAREABILITY

Takes timeto digest

Quick and

easy to scan

DIGESTIBILITY

Speaks to heads

Speaksto

hearts

INTEREST

“Thunk” factor

“Wow”

factor

APPEAL

Superficial

In-dept

h

DEPTH OFCONTENT

As a COMPLEMENT to reports.

Ways to use INFOGRAPHICS

As a PREVIEW for a longer report.

To tell a STORY.

Have corresponding expectations.

DATA CLARITY

KEYFEATURES

OF A GOODINFOGRAPHIC:

From “Infographics for Outreach, Advocacy, and Marketing: From Data to Design”,Idealware (2013)

VISUAL CLARITY

KEYFEATURES

OF A GOODINFOGRAPHIC:

From “Infographi

cs for Outreach, Advocacy,

and Marketing: From Data

to Design”,Idealware

(2013)

PURPOSE

KEYFEATURES

OF A GOODINFOGRAPHIC:

Hook

FocalPoint

Take-Away

Don’t forget the attribution!

WhenNOT to use

infographics

“…designing good

infographics isn’t as

simple as it looks.”

Babar Suleman

* Montana KIDS COUNT * Bureau of Business & Economic Research * University of Montana

WARNING!

http://visual.ly/evil-effects-bad-infographics

ONLINE TOOLS

www.manyeyes.com

infogr.am

www.easel.ly

www.visual.ly

http://pinterst.com/kanter/nonprofit-infographics

www.pinterest.com/idealware/infographic-report-examples

www.good.is/infographics

www.pinterest.com/idealware/infographic-report-examples

www.pinterest.com/kanter/nonprofit-infographics

www.good.is/infographics

www.edwardtufte.com/

www.idealware.org

www.feltron.com

ONLINE RESOURCES

“The Wall Street Journal Guide to Information Graphics”, Dona M. Wong

“Infographics for Outreach, Advocacy, and Marketing: From Data to Design”,

Idealware.org

“Blah, Blah, Blah: What to do when words don’t work”, Dan Roam

“The Back of the Napkin”, Dan Roam

PRINT RESOURCES

Thale Dillon, DirectorMontana KIDS COUNT

Bureau of Business & Economic Research

University of Montana—Missoula

thale.dillon@business.umt.eduwww.montanakidscount.org

www.bber.umt.edu