Info-Graphics: Info-Graphics: From Concept to RealityFrom Concept to Reality

Warren WatsonWarren Watson

Arizona State UniversityArizona State University

20122012

Why Design?Why Design?

• ““Design is a tool to make things clear. It is Design is a tool to make things clear. It is a lubricant for ideas. Poor design is like a lubricant for ideas. Poor design is like crackling static on the radiocrackling static on the radio.”.”

-- Jan White, author, teacher (1988)-- Jan White, author, teacher (1988)

• ““Why design? It’s simple. We’re in a Why design? It’s simple. We’re in a vicious fistfight for people’s eyeballsvicious fistfight for people’s eyeballs

-- David Fowler, art director (1994)-- David Fowler, art director (1994)

Poor Design: ‘Crackling static’Poor Design: ‘Crackling static’

The Role of the DesignerThe Role of the Designer

““Role of the designer Role of the designer is to get the reader to is to get the reader to the first paragraphthe first paragraph.” .”

-- Edwin Taylor-- Edwin Taylor

Thinking VisuallyThinking Visually

People appreciate the look of things before People appreciate the look of things before the content itself. Some simple examples the content itself. Some simple examples showing the power of graphic thinking.showing the power of graphic thinking.

Why Use Informational GraphicsWhy Use Informational Graphics

• To help make stories more understandableTo help make stories more understandable• To give readers a sense of contextTo give readers a sense of context• To provide additional entry points on your To provide additional entry points on your

pagespages• To “image” information; graphics make To “image” information; graphics make

sense of chaos, define the abstractsense of chaos, define the abstract• To reveal data at different levels of detailTo reveal data at different levels of detail

‘‘Recognizable Form’Recognizable Form’

““The hardest job (for today’s journalist) is The hardest job (for today’s journalist) is getting information into a recognizable getting information into a recognizable form. In an age of quick information, form. In an age of quick information, reading is knowing, but seeing is reading is knowing, but seeing is believingbelieving.”.”

--- John Sculley, former chairman, Apple Computer--- John Sculley, former chairman, Apple Computer

Combination Combination of Type and of Type and

ArtworkArtwork

This form of This form of storytelling storytelling combines photos combines photos or illustrative or illustrative elements with elements with type. They type. They combine to tell a combine to tell a story.story.

Practicing Journalism WholePracticing Journalism Whole

““Competing for the news will require us to Competing for the news will require us to practice journalism whole. It means that practice journalism whole. It means that editors will widen the view of their work, so editors will widen the view of their work, so that words, illustrations and page design that words, illustrations and page design are thought of us as one, not apart, and are thought of us as one, not apart, and handled wholehandled whole.”.”

--Gene Patterson, former editor and publisher, --Gene Patterson, former editor and publisher,

St. Petersburg Times (1988)St. Petersburg Times (1988)

Whole Whole JournalismJournalism

Heads,Heads, photos,photos, graphicsgraphics workingworking in in unisonunison

Photos to connote reality; Photos to connote reality; graphics, stories, cutlines graphics, stories, cutlines to explain informationto explain information

Getting the Reader to the 1st GraphGetting the Reader to the 1st Graph

* Strong * Strong head with head with active verbactive verb

* Map * Map showing showing epicenterepicenter

* Brief facts * Brief facts about quake about quake over headover head

* Infographic* Infographic

* Subhead * Subhead tells more of tells more of storystory

Make Every Tool Count!Make Every Tool Count!

History: ‘How Newspapers History: ‘How Newspapers Evolved’Evolved’

1890: Evolving Toward Today1890: Evolving Toward Today

1912-37: Getting Visual1912-37: Getting Visual

1945: Experimenting with 1945: Experimenting with DesignDesign

1961-86: Major Strides in Design1961-86: Major Strides in Design

1993: An All-1993: An All-Photo Front PagePhoto Front Page

On a slow news On a slow news day, this day, this newspaper newspaper created a page created a page with no stories. with no stories. Not a single Not a single reader reader complained!complained!

USAT PullsUSAT PullsIt TogetherIt Together

Not the first in color, Not the first in color, not the first in not the first in graphics, not the first graphics, not the first to package.to package.

‘‘McPaper’ parlaysMcPaper’ parlays it all for first time.it all for first time.

Journalism Story Forms:Journalism Story Forms:A Reminder from September 11A Reminder from September 11

Photos Do the Best Job in Photos Do the Best Job in Communicating Reality ...Communicating Reality ...

Emotion, ScaleEmotion, Scale

Graphics Often Do the Best Job Graphics Often Do the Best Job in Explaining That Realityin Explaining That Reality

The New York Times produced an The New York Times produced an extraordinary body of work in informational extraordinary body of work in informational graphics around 9/11. Here is some of the graphics around 9/11. Here is some of the material.material.

‘‘Help The Reader Understand’Help The Reader Understand’

““Too often, we rely on the narrative, the Too often, we rely on the narrative, the 30-inch story, as the only form of telling the 30-inch story, as the only form of telling the story, especially a complex one. But you story, especially a complex one. But you can tell your story using other tools -- a can tell your story using other tools -- a graphic, a highlights box, a diagram -- and graphic, a highlights box, a diagram -- and help the reader understand the topic.”help the reader understand the topic.”

--- Bryan Monroe, assistant managing editor, San --- Bryan Monroe, assistant managing editor, San Jose Mercury NewsJose Mercury News

The 5 Elements The 5 Elements of a Graphicof a Graphic

1) Headline1) Headline 2) Explainer: A short 2) Explainer: A short

statement explaining statement explaining why the information is why the information is importantimportant

3) Body: The 3) Body: The presentation of the datapresentation of the data

4) Source line4) Source line 5) Credit line5) Credit line

Kinds of Graphics: Kinds of Graphics: What to Look For?What to Look For?

• A A who story: Suggests a bio box story: Suggests a bio box• A A what story: Suggests a breakout of provisions story: Suggests a breakout of provisions• A A when story: Suggests a time line or schedule story: Suggests a time line or schedule• A A where story: Suggests a map story: Suggests a map• A A why story: Suggests a pro/ con breakout story: Suggests a pro/ con breakout• A A how story: Suggests a table, chart or diagram story: Suggests a table, chart or diagram

‘‘Information Anxiety’Information Anxiety’

““Good instruction is built on good Good instruction is built on good description. Words, pictures and numbers description. Words, pictures and numbers -- -- use the right meansuse the right means to describe your to describe your ends. Learning is remembering what you’re ends. Learning is remembering what you’re interested ininterested in.”.” -- Richard Wurman (1990) in book of the same name -- Richard Wurman (1990) in book of the same name

(Book was recently updated)(Book was recently updated)

Put It in Understandable TermsPut It in Understandable Terms

• An acre is 45,568 square feet in area. Easy An acre is 45,568 square feet in area. Easy to forget? Yes.to forget? Yes.

• An acre is also roughly the size of a football An acre is also roughly the size of a football field without the end zonesfield without the end zones

• This is a cure for information anxiety!This is a cure for information anxiety!

Graphic Description: Use in WritingGraphic Description: Use in Writing• To better understand the To better understand the

enormity of the World enormity of the World Trade Center disaster, Trade Center disaster, consider the sheer size of consider the sheer size of the buildings.the buildings.

• Each floor of the Twin Each floor of the Twin Towers contained 45,000 Towers contained 45,000 to 50,000 square feet of to 50,000 square feet of office space. Each floor office space. Each floor was about the was about the size of a football field in area! in area!

LocatorLocatorMapMap

Always effective Always effective in creating in creating understanding.understanding.

Demystifying Charts and Tables: Demystifying Charts and Tables: Major TypesMajor Types

> Pie chartPie chart: Compares the parts that make up a whole, : Compares the parts that make up a whole, often measuring money, population, percentages.often measuring money, population, percentages.

> Line or fever chartLine or fever chart: Measures changing quantities : Measures changing quantities over time, plotting key statistics on a grid.over time, plotting key statistics on a grid.

> Bar chartBar chart: Compares 2 or more items visually as : Compares 2 or more items visually as abstract bars or columns.abstract bars or columns.

> Numerical tableNumerical table: Arranges data into columns so : Arranges data into columns so readers can make precise, side-by-side comparisons. readers can make precise, side-by-side comparisons.

Pie Charts: StrengthsPie Charts: Strengths

A pie chart should A pie chart should be used to be used to summarize statistics summarize statistics in which the size of in which the size of the pieces relative the pieces relative to the whole is to the whole is important. Note: A important. Note: A pie of more than 6 pie of more than 6 slices can be slices can be confusing. Consider confusing. Consider another form.another form.

Fever Chart: StrengthsFever Chart: Strengths

Fever charts plot pairs Fever charts plot pairs of coordinates, usually of coordinates, usually representing time and representing time and quantity, on a grid and quantity, on a grid and then join those points then join those points of form one of form one continuous line of continuous line of curve. Fevers should curve. Fevers should not be used when data not be used when data varies too little.varies too little.

Poor UsePoor Use Too little variation in Too little variation in

the quantity line.the quantity line.

Organizing Information in Tab FormOrganizing Information in Tab Form

Bar ChartsBar Charts

Bar charts Bar charts represent represent numerical numerical values as values as abstract bars or abstract bars or columns. They columns. They compare compare amountsamounts

Effective Way to CommunicateEffective Way to CommunicateLots of InformationLots of Information

Diagrams: Diagrams: The Most The Most Difficult, Difficult, But Often But Often

Most Most Effective Effective

FormForm

Having Some Fun With GraphicsHaving Some Fun With Graphics

Simplicity, Simplicity, SimplicitySimplicity, Simplicity, Simplicity

Some Things to Avoid in Some Things to Avoid in GraphicsGraphics

• The inclination to create a pie chart, fever chart The inclination to create a pie chart, fever chart or bar chart WITHOUT actual numbersor bar chart WITHOUT actual numbers

• Maps with a non-North/South orientationMaps with a non-North/South orientation• Mixed scalesMixed scales• Distortion -- in the old USA Today weather Distortion -- in the old USA Today weather

map, does Maine and the rest of New England map, does Maine and the rest of New England really have less weather than Florida?really have less weather than Florida?

When Not to Use a GraphicWhen Not to Use a Graphic

• When the information is too obvious or too simpleWhen the information is too obvious or too simple• When the story is too complicatedWhen the story is too complicated• When words say it betterWhen words say it better• When there is no time to do the graphic well When there is no time to do the graphic well • When you’re simply doing a graphic to get color on When you’re simply doing a graphic to get color on

the pagethe page --- Source: Gerald Council, Los Angeles Times--- Source: Gerald Council, Los Angeles Times

A Reporter’s Guide to GraphicsA Reporter’s Guide to Graphics

• View graphics as sidebars -- sometimes they View graphics as sidebars -- sometimes they illustrate your stories, sometimes they add illustrate your stories, sometimes they add additional information, sometimes they carry the additional information, sometimes they carry the so-called heavy cargo (numbers, complex data).so-called heavy cargo (numbers, complex data).

• What to look for:What to look for: --- Get all the numbers when reporting--- Get all the numbers when reporting --- Ask for the drawings, schematics--- Ask for the drawings, schematics --- Bring back the map--- Bring back the map --- Get phone numbers for followup--- Get phone numbers for followup --- Go to the graphics specialist early--- Go to the graphics specialist early

The Process: A Graphic Is Only The Process: A Graphic Is Only As Clear As Its ConceptAs Clear As Its Concept

• Decide what you want to say. Is the point to Decide what you want to say. Is the point to show a trend, convey quantity, educate, show a trend, convey quantity, educate, locate or explain?locate or explain?

• No graphic can be all things. Focus is No graphic can be all things. Focus is primary.primary.

• Don’t compensate for unclear data by Don’t compensate for unclear data by packing in whatever data you can find.packing in whatever data you can find.

• Create a graphic that will actually be useful.Create a graphic that will actually be useful.

The Process: IdeasThe Process: Ideas

Someone in the newsroom should read every Someone in the newsroom should read every story, scan every budget, and listen to every story, scan every budget, and listen to every news conversation with graphics in mind. news conversation with graphics in mind. Could the graphic help the story by:Could the graphic help the story by:

* Demonstrating a trend?* Demonstrating a trend? * Comparing size, cost?* Comparing size, cost? * Locating the site?* Locating the site? * Showing how it happened?* Showing how it happened?

Combination Combination GraphicGraphic

Includes line Includes line graph, table and graph, table and bullet bullet information to information to tell the story.tell the story.

The Process: ResearchThe Process: Research

• Information drives effective graphicsInformation drives effective graphics• Accommodations must be made for the Accommodations must be made for the

research to be completed; the graphics research to be completed; the graphics research should be part of the story research should be part of the story assignmentassignment

• It could be done by the artist, the reporter, It could be done by the artist, the reporter, or a designated graphics reporteror a designated graphics reporter

The Process: Research SourcesThe Process: Research Sources

• World Wide Web -- invaluable!World Wide Web -- invaluable!• Maps -- From anywhere you go, no matter Maps -- From anywhere you go, no matter

how silly or insignificant they may seemhow silly or insignificant they may seem• Encyclopedias -- Provide basics on a wide Encyclopedias -- Provide basics on a wide

variety of subjectsvariety of subjects• Chamber of Commerce -- a library of stuffChamber of Commerce -- a library of stuff• Annual reportsAnnual reports• A point-and-shoot cameraA point-and-shoot camera more more

The Process: More Research SourcesThe Process: More Research Sources• The Associated PressThe Associated Press• ““Statistical Abstract of the United States”Statistical Abstract of the United States”• Mailing lists, universitiesMailing lists, universities• ““The Wall Street Journal Guide to Money and The Wall Street Journal Guide to Money and

Investing”Investing”• ““Who Knows What: The Essential Business Who Knows What: The Essential Business

Resource Book”Resource Book”• National Weather ServiceNational Weather Service• ““Economic Report of the President”Economic Report of the President”• World AlmanacWorld Almanac• Idiot’s Guides Idiot’s Guides

Process: Editing and CommunicationProcess: Editing and Communication

Editors and artists must communicate during the Editors and artists must communicate during the process of graphic development. Other tips:process of graphic development. Other tips:

* Make sure graphic text is clean, tight and * Make sure graphic text is clean, tight and simple -- and correctsimple -- and correct

* Graphics should go through the same editing * Graphics should go through the same editing process as storiesprocess as stories

* How large should a graphic be?* How large should a graphic be? --- --- AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE!AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE!

A Simpler Form of GraphicsA Simpler Form of Graphics

• What if you don’t have the time and What if you don’t have the time and resources to do “art graphics?”resources to do “art graphics?”

• You can still reach readers through a You can still reach readers through a technique called layering the news ….technique called layering the news ….

Layering the NewsLayering the News

• The reporting and presentation of a news The reporting and presentation of a news story in multiple pieces using a variety of story in multiple pieces using a variety of visual and text-organization techniques. visual and text-organization techniques. They range from refers to news in depth, They range from refers to news in depth, including analyses and full texts of speeches.including analyses and full texts of speeches.

• Layering involves the ability to see the Layering involves the ability to see the complete picture -- how headlines, summary complete picture -- how headlines, summary headlines, photos, captions, graphics, headlines, photos, captions, graphics, quoteouts, readouts and glance boxes can quoteouts, readouts and glance boxes can work in combination.work in combination.

Three Levels of LayeringThree Levels of Layering

* 1) Lists, comparisons woven into graphics* 1) Lists, comparisons woven into graphics * 2) Data pulled from stories and presented * 2) Data pulled from stories and presented

separatelyseparately * 3) Reader education information that * 3) Reader education information that

supplements storiessupplements stories

• Layer three is attractive to readers who Layer three is attractive to readers who don’t buy the paper daily. They look to the don’t buy the paper daily. They look to the newspaper for meaning.newspaper for meaning.

Nugget or Glance BoxesNugget or Glance Boxes

This nugget This nugget capsulizes the story, capsulizes the story, providing the providing the information at information at another layer of another layer of depth.depth.

Building Building UnderstandingUnderstanding

This form of This form of nugget fits a nugget fits a format -- what is format -- what is the news, what the news, what does it mean, does it mean, what’s coming up what’s coming up next?next?

Highlighting Highlighting Key InformationKey Information

The nugget or The nugget or glance box allows glance box allows you to pull out and you to pull out and highlight important highlight important story details and story details and refer to other refer to other stories.stories.

Summing Up Design: 8 Simple Summing Up Design: 8 Simple Learnings from SNDLearnings from SND

• Keep it simpleKeep it simple• Let content drive the designLet content drive the design• Take care with the detailsTake care with the details• Pay attention to the words as wellPay attention to the words as well• Think like, not for, the readerThink like, not for, the reader• Treat typography with respectTreat typography with respect• Reflect your communityReflect your community• Take a risk every now and thenTake a risk every now and then