Background on what infographics are. How they're being used (or not) in higher education. Challenges and suggestions for success and improved outcomes.
3. What is an infographic?
3
[in-foh-graf-ik]
noun
def: graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge
intended to present information quickly and clearly
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InfographicUAD#6
4. WHY USE INFOGRAPHICS?
4
65%
50%of the brain is dedicated to vision
of people are visual learners
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infographic
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=587201
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5. WHY USE INFOGRAPHICS?
COMPREHENSION RETENTIONAPPEAL
Infographics help achieve the 3 main goals of communication:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InfographicUAD#6
12. Thinking of an infographic that doesn’t fit into one of these categories?
Me too.
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13. A SUCCESSFUL INFOGRAPHIC SHOULD…
13
• show the data
• induce the viewer to think about the substance rather than about methodology, graphic design, the
technology of graphic production, or something else
• avoid distorting what the data have to say
• present many numbers in a small space
• make large data sets coherent
• encourage the eye to compare different pieces of data
• reveal the data at several levels of detail, from a broad overview to the fine structure
• serve a reasonably clear purpose: description, exploration, tabulation, or decoration
• be closely integrated with the statistical and verbal descriptions of a data set.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infographic
Edward Tufte
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
Is this better?
• Is it clearer?
• Does it make you pay
more attention?
• Will it help you remember
the content?
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14. "Graphics reveal data.
Indeed graphics can be more precise
and revealing than conventional
statistical computations."
Edward Tufte
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
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15. INFOGRAPHICS FOR CAMPUS
15
Distribute basic information for
faculty, staff, students, or parents
Educate campus about issues
Introduce/profile members of
campus
Help campus learn about
resources or organizations
Get students to read their
email!
Celebrate successes and
share news
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17. So what’s the deal?
Why aren't we using more infographics on campus?
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18. CAMPUS Challenges
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We don’t think about it Time consumingNo expertise/experience
We don’t see them
that much in a
campus context.
May not be an
obvious solution.
Lots of work.
Typing some stuff
is way easier and
faster.
Most of us aren’t
artists or
designers.
Making them correctly
Building them
well.
Accessibility,
usability, and
good design.
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19. CASE STUDY: Google at NC State
19
Troubleshooting the rollout
This infographic was to help explain the terms of service for core
and consumer apps. Also intended to help relieve anxiety that
Google was going to take over campus.
Since we rolled out the service to everyone on campus more or less
at the same time there were a lot of questions. We used infographics
like these to help campus users help themselves and understand the
implications of different options and services.
When Google came to campus
http://google.ncsu.edu/UAD#6
20. CASE STUDY: EMORY Printing
20
Emory Libraries and IT used an infographic address that classic
question of all incoming students: should I bring a printer to
campus?
They elected to tell a story about printing on campus that quickly
made a visual case for leaving the printer at home and using
campus printing resources.
The printer dilemma
http://communications.emory.edu/case-studies/infographic-student-printing.htmlUAD#6
21. CASE STUDY: NC State Recreation
21
YAY LEARNING!
Campus Rec informed users about the program’s history
using a quiz, and then made it more engaging by adding
visual elements. It’s no less challenging, just more fun.
The fun kind of quiz!
http://recreation.ncsu.edu/UAD#6
22. CASE STUDY: Berkley Alumni
22
One of the most common infographic topics for higher ed:
fundraising.
Gives an overview of the school and its achievements. Recaps vital
statistics for the year and previews how alumni contributions
contribute to the university.
Making the case for donations
http://alumni.berkeley.edu/give/annual-donor-infographicUAD#6
23. CASE STUDY: NC State SUSTAINABILITY
23
The Sustainability office at NC State runs an
annual challenge among residence halls to lower
energy and water consumption.
This inforgraphic helps informs campus of the
winner, and serves to energize the competition for
the next year.
Change your State
http://sustainability.ncsu.edu/changeyourstateUAD#6
24. CAMPUS Challenges
24
We don’t think about it Time consumingNo expertise/experience
We don’t see them
that much in a
campus context.
May not be an
obvious solution.
Lots of work.
Typing some stuff
is way easier and
faster.
Most of us aren’t
artists or
designers.
Making them correctly
Building them
well.
Accessibility,
usability, and
good design.
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25. USE YOUR
CAMPUS
•Take a class.
•Find a student or intern.
•Start or join a campus club.
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26. USE YOUR
COMMUNITY
•Hire a local artist or designer.
•Start or join an organization.
•Sign-up for an online course.
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27. JUST
DO IT
•Start playing and see what works for you
and your message(s).
•Learn as you go. You’ll get better. I promise.
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28. CAMPUS Challenges
28
We don’t think about it Time consumingNo expertise/experience
We don’t see them
that much in a
campus context.
May not be an
obvious solution.
Lots of work.
Typing some stuff
is way easier and
faster.
Most of us aren’t
artists or
designers.
Making them correctly
Building them
well.
Accessibility,
usability, and
good design.
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30. 30
Step 1: Get Inspired
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thewhartonschool/sets/72157629382230650/
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31. 31
Use Pre-Built Resources
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Lorem Lorem Lorem Lorem Lorem Lorem Lorem Lorem
100
75
50
25
0
28%
28%
28%
28%
28%
28%
28%
28%
8/108/10
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Nov Oct Dec
Lorem
Ipsum
Dolor
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Nov Oct Dec
Lorem
Ipsum
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
8/108/108/10
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing
elit. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor
fringilla. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod
semper. Donec sed odio dui. Vestibulum id ligula
porta felis euismod semper. Integer posuere erat a
ante venenatis dapibus posuere velit aliquet. Integer
posuere erat a ante venenatis dapibus posuere velit
aliquet.
Aenean lacinia bibendum nulla sed consectetur.
Nullam quis risus eget urna mollis ornare vel eu leo.
Maecenas faucibus mollis interdum. Cras justo
odio, dapibus ac facilisis in, egestas eget quam.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
86%
50%25% 100%0% 75%
Lorem ipsum dolor
sit amet, consectetur
adipiscing elit.
Donec ullamcous
auctor fringilla.
Vestibulum id ligula
porta.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Nov Oct Dec
3/5
4/5
18%
25%
75%
8/10 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,
consectetur adipiscing elit.
Lorem ipsum
dolor sit amet.
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
$100,000
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32. 32
Use Web Resources
CANVA.com
$
• Free, with some assets
available for-pay
• Wide range of templates
and assests available
• Focus on design
• Easy to use
Inforgr.AM
$$
• Free, with pricing plans
• Create interactive
charts using numerical
data
• WordPress plugin
available
• Educational pricing
available!
VISME.CO
$$
• Free, with pricing plans
• Nice templates and
library of graphic
resources
• Easy to use
Easel.LY
$
• Free, with Pro option
• Quick and easy to get
started
Piktochart.com
$$$
• Free, with pricing plans
• Good quality design
• Embed video into
designs
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/randy-krum/5-great-online-tools-for-_b_5964874.html
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33. 33
THINK INSIDE the box
https://prezi.com/mc8hapdogzgb/how-to-make-an-infographic/
http://honors.dasa.ncsu.edu
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34. "The great thing is that the wealth of
free tools has changed the relationship
between readers and journalists
forever.
The data belongs to everyone now
and everyone has the power to
visualize it."
http://visualoop.com/blog/27650/40-thought-provoking-quotes-about-data-visualization-and-infographics
Simon Rogers
simonrogers.net, August 2012
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35. 35
I won’t lie: it’s still time consuming.
But the more time you spend, the better it will be,
and it gets easier with each new project.
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36. CAMPUS Challenges
36
We don’t think about it Time consumingNo expertise/experience Making them correctly
We don’t see them
that much in a
campus context.
May not be an
obvious solution.
Lots of work.
Typing some stuff
is way easier and
faster.
Most of us aren’t
artists or
designers.
Building them
well.
Accessibility,
usability, and
good design.
UAD#6
37. THE VALUE OF ACCESSIBILITY
37
You need to have a web version.
Anchor
links
Color
contrast
Extra
details
Alt tags
and long
descriptions
Replace all
image-text
with text-text
SEO
http://www.accessiq.org/create/content/how-to-create-an-accessible-infographicUAD#6
39. "…we won’t discover new
awesomeness without failing.
The future of information
visualization is being shaped by
projects that fail in many senses
and that are being criticized."
Santiago Ortiz
moebio.com, August 2012
http://visualoop.com/blog/27650/40-thought-provoking-quotes-about-data-visualization-and-infographicsUAD#6
46. CAMPUS Challenges
46
We don’t think about it
We don’t see them
that much in a
campus context.
May not be an
obvious solution.
Time consuming
Lots of work.
Typing some stuff
is way easier and
faster.
No expertise/experience
Most of us aren’t
artists or
designers.
Making them correctly
Building them
well.
Accessibility,
usability, and
good design.
UAD#6
47. Remember usability testing?
Guess what? It works for infographics, too.
CHECK YOUR WORK
http://fivesecondtest.com/
And to design for your audience…
And remember to consider
responsive design…
And cite your sources…
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48. "We have all the problems of a major
theme park and a major zoo and the
computer's not even on its feet yet."
http://visualoop.com/blog/27650/40-thought-provoking-quotes-about-data-visualization-and-infographics
Ray Arnold
Jurassic Park
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49. I’m not saying it’ll be easy.
But infographics are a great tool when done well,
and they can be a great asset to higher ed
and joy to our campuses.
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51. “…a thing that will stay here
forever is the need for data
visualization."
http://visualoop.com/blog/27650/40-thought-provoking-quotes-about-data-visualization-and-infographics
Uldis Leifert
infogr.am, October 2012
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