InfoGraphics at Carleton
- Samir Bhala
- D Foxgrover
What are they?
From Wikipedia.org: "Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge. These graphics present complex information quickly and clearly, ... (allowing) computer scientists, mathematicians, and statisticians (to) develop and communicate concepts using a single symbol to process information." InfoGraphics qualify quantitative information.
What is the difference between an infographic and a poster?
Poster
This poster conveys the results of a study of the influence of political party on income inequality in the United States from 1967 to 2010. Its sections include a research question, literature review, hypothesis, discussion of variables, model specifications, data analysis, and conclusion. The poster includes a table that shows the significance of each variable to and the effectiveness of each statistical model. Two graphs actualize the results of the strongest out of five statistical models tested for different categorical variables. Other graphs show the distribution of the data and the plotted residual errors for the final model. This poster is highly technical and would be effective as a paper, but would also overwhelm any lay-person trying to follow.
InfoGraphic
This infographic conveys the results from a similar study, which measured income inequality within the United States from 1917 to 2008. Its title is rather straight-forward, asking who gains when income grows. Rather than saddle the viewer with details of pertinent literature or model specifications, the infographic draws one's attention to the main line graph, which measures distributions of income over time, and another complementary pie chart, that describes wealth. Three key descriptive statistics on income inequality supplement these two graphs. The infographic describes a similar phenomenon as studied in the poster, but in a more visually appealing, accessible way. It uses multiple graphics to convey pertinent information.
Although you may know the difference when you see it, we should first understand what comprises posters and infographics.
Features of Posters
1. Title and introduction
2. Methods
3. Data and results
4. Graphs
5. Images
6. Discussion
7. Conclusion and next steps
8. References
Features of Both
1. Title and statement of purpose
2. Results
3. Graphs and images
4. Next steps
5. References
Features of Infographics
1. Title and statement of purpose
2. Data and Results
3. Graphical visualization of results
4. Conclusion and next steps
5. References
Visualize relationships among data points
Compare a set of values
Track rises and falls over time
See the parts of a whole
Analyze a text
See the world
What are you trying to convey?
What framework do you have to convey this?
What data do you have?
How do you want to use colors and graphics?
Is your message clear to you?Is your message clear to the viewer?