Infographics is a graphical and visual representation of data used to present complex data quickly and clearly. Infographics can improve understanding by using graphics to increase its visual ability, patterns and trends. Initially it was used by technical writers, scientists, educators and mathematicians, but today its scope has increased across industries to visually display the details and benefits of their solution to their audience.
Features of Infographics:
- An independent message in a whole
- Viewer friendly in nature
- Timeline presentation of an event
- Involvement of signs, maps, charts and data presentation
- Motion images, audio and video messages
- User interactivity
- Dynamic in nature
- Shows cause-effect relationships of data
Components of Infographics:
Infographics consists of three main components: visual, content and knowledge. Visual component includes colors and graphics in it. Graphics visual contains two parts – theme and reference. Theme is a compulsory part of infographics and it decides how the data will be represented while reference uses icons to point out some important part of data. Statistics in the data form the content which can include census data, reports, etc. Knowledge contains facts related to data that is to be presented.
Absence of any one of these components may not create a good infographic. If there are no facts included it limits decision making. Visual components help you bind with your audience. Lack of proper content and statistics reduce popularity amongst viewers.
Benefits of Infographics:
- Easy understanding of connection between any two stages of an event
- Charts solves the problem of dealing with tables containing large quantity of numeric data
- Maximum data in minimum space with no loss in the quality
- Fast access to different websites by links on infographics page
- Data retention rate increases
- Conviction in lesser time
Future of Infographics:
Infographics has been gaining wide popularity and acceptability over the past few years. Design is done in such a way that a concept is understood in one glance only. With every day passing it is getting more refined. Initially only static images were being used but now motion images and animations are also a part of infographics. Animations provide a self-explanatory narration of data. Voice overs can be combined with animations making infographics very eye-catching. Increased use of social media and mobile devices gives rise to interactive infographics. With the widespread use and multiple benefits, very soon infographics will evolve as THE medium interactivity and user- generated content.