Infographics

Infographics or as known by its long name, information graphics, are visual representations designed with the goal of simplifying complex information or concepts. By presenting these in graphic form human visual interpretation is enhanced with patterns that basically make the connections for them. The process of creating infographics is also known as data visualization, information design, or information architecture.

Humans receive input from the five senses of sight, touch, hearing, smell, and taste but receive significantly more information visually. By most estimates, fifty percent of the human brain is dedicated to visual functions, and images are processed faster because text is viewed in a linear fashion, which requires more concentration or attention.

Infographics have been used since the time when early man was drawing on cave walls. Maps of transit networks are are another real-life example of information graphics with the use of colors to identify and simplify complex routes for commuters.

The three parts of all infographics are the visual, the content, and the knowledge. The visual design aspects of an infographic are space, marks, connection, enclosure, retinal properties, and temporal encoding. These represent relationships between different types of data. Spatial position is by far the most effective way to represent numerical data and leads to the fastest and easiest understanding.

Infographics can be a highly efficient and effective way to convey large amounts of information in a visual manner.