This infographic document provides information on what infographics are and why they are effective communication tools. It discusses that infographics tell visual stories using images and graphics to engage audiences better than plain text. Effective infographics are simple, visually pleasing, and help explain complex topics. They improve comprehension and retention of information by leveraging human visual processing abilities.

1. what are infographics?
info
grap
hics
The South Africa I know, the home I understand

2. what are infographics?
Pali lehohla
Statistician-General
Statistics South Africa, 2014

3. What the reader reads?
Source: Poynter institute
80%
75%
56%
52%
31%
25%
29%
infographics
photos
headlines
advertising
briefs
outlines
text
1

4. Most people tend to have shorter and shorter attention spans, for which (unsurprisingly)
looking at a captivating image beats out reading large amounts of text.
People are constantly exposed to information overload via our computers, tablets, and
smartphones. The key is no longer to get the information out there, but to get attention
for it.
Human beings are highly visual and can absorb visual information faster and more
easily than other kinds of information.
Most people forget a large amount of what they’ve read, but they do remember what
they’ve seen.
Infographics are more fun and engaging than plain text.
Infographics, when done right, do not only make it easier to understand complex
information, but boost both the creator’s profile and website traffic.
Infographics allow the creator to showcase his or her knowledge about a certain topic.
A good infographic can spread quickly on the Internet, giving other bloggers and
writers something to talk about, and the creator backlinks and gets more exposure.
Be sure to include a logo and URL on the image for copyright purposes.
8 Reasons why
infographics Work
http://www.forbes.com/sites/allbusiness/2013/08/02/use-infographics-to-boost-your-credibility-and-traffic
2
Let’s review why data visualisation is so effective:

5. There is a crossroad on a priority
road ahead - you may have to
stop or yield at the intersection
vs
3

6. Source: Poynter institute
We receive
5xmore
information
today
as we did in 1986.
4

7. Source: Poynter institute
researchers found that
colour visuals
to read by
increase the willingness
80%
5

8. 6
Is the design
aesthetically pleasing?
Yes
Is the design appropriate,
given the subject matter?
Yes
Is the design helpful
in communicating a
message?
Yes
What makes a
good infographic?

9. People following directions
with text and illustrations
323%
than people following directions
without illustrations.
better
do
Source: Poynter institute
7

10. 8
What makes a
good infographic?
Utility
Is the story clear, useful, engaging, informative and inspiring?
Soundness
Is the content reliable, complete and presented appropriately?
Maintain a structure
Do not use more than 2 fonts/ typography.
Include sources and references at footer.

11. infographic
A data-rich visualisation of a story or thesis
Definition
Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information,
data or knowledge intended to present complex information quickly and clearly.[1][2]
They can improve cognition by utilising graphics to enhance the human visual system’s
ability to see patterns and trends.[3][4] The process of creating infographics can be
referred to as data visualisation, information design, or information architecture.[2]
9
A tool to educate and inform

12. High quality
are
infographics
x30 times more
likely to be read than text articles
http://www.educationalimpact.com/resources/VisualTools/pdf/1_research_and_results.pdf
10

13. information
transmitted
to the brain
is visual.
90%of
http://www.psychologicalscience.org/journals/pspi/PSPI_9_3.pdf
11

14. 12
Tell a story
An infographic tells a story
with illustrations and graphics.
Design
infographic in a
way that it tells a story
simply by looking at it

15. 13
Tell a story
the story is an inherent
part of an infographic.
Infographics are not
graphs. charts. lists.
Sure, they can employ graphs, charts, and lists
but

16. 14
Simplicity is king
As always in the world of presentations, simplicity
is king. Narrow your focus by choosing just one
question to answer with each infographic.
Numerous ideas into one infographic maximises
complexity and minimise simplicity, which is
precisely the opposite of what you want to do.

17. 15
The flow of an infographic
Do not make
viewers hunt
for information
should be intuitive.

18. use
16
Less is more
Minimal text is ideal
Take out the excessive or unnecessary data
large font size
so text is easy to read.

19. 17
ComprehensionVisualisations enable us to digest information
more effeciently and facilitate understanding.
RetentionVisualisations aid in ability to
retain information by drawing
upon understood symbols,
scenes and patterns.
In an Infographics…
Visual should be relevant
Visual should be clear
Text should be readable

20. 18
Improving visual storytelling.
Understanding your audience.
Show an Expert
understanding
of a Subject
What do you want to convey ?
How will readers connect with the graphics ?
How fast will readers pick the facts ?
The impact of visual on reader

21. 19
Define how stuff works. Step by step.
Define building a sectional and floor
cover. Building plan. Science poster.
Mechanical parts of a car.
people love facts, figures and statistics.
satisfy the reader’s
technical curiosty

22. 20
Use only two sets of fonts
Upper-lower for subheads in bold font
Avoid ornamental font in graphics
Body copy in sans-serif font
Headline shouldn't be bigger than story head
Use sans-serif font for smaller graphic headline
No serif font (in reverse) or over colour background
Fonts should be from main design family
Do not compress the font to fit, no change in kerning
Use of fonts

23. 21
Text should match the visual
Use minimum possible words
No long running stories
Bullet points or short sentences
Divide info in sub-sections
Highlight figures and facts
Give holding intro once
Amount of
information

24. 22
Basic rule is black & white text
Avoid colour in headlines , if possible
Use colour bands for sub-heads
Body copy: Black only, if possible
No four colour combination for small point size
No text colour over dark colour background
Text Colour

25. 23
One family of colours
Try to use natural combinations
Avoid big dark empty patches
Avoid four-colour background
Minimum colours in small graphics
colour

26. 24
Strategic maps
Directional maps
Comparison
‘How’technical or scientific reporting
Platforms (Media)
Print - Poster, News, Advertisments, Magazines, Pamphlets
Television - Technical reporting, Advertising
Internet - Data survey reporting
uses
Presenting survey data
Explaining how something works

27. infographics
produced by Stats SA
A selection of

28. Migration
moved to Gauteng
2,2 million people
were born outside
South Africa (4%)
1 million people
Did you know?
Largest
increase
Smallest
increase
Free
State
Gauteng
1%34%
Main intra-
provincial
migration
Only 56% of people
in Gauteng were
born there
9,5% of people in
Gautengwere born
outside South Africa

29. How does my community compare?
Comparing Soweto to Gauteng and National numbers
using Census 2011 data
Source: Census 2011
Soweto
1 271 628
51% 49%
Gauteng
SouthAfrica
51 770 560
51% 49%
Access to Electricity
93%87%
Access to Electricity:Access to Electricity
30 28
Average age
30 29
Average age
30 29
Average age
92%
Access to Cellphones
89%
Access to TV
75%
Access to TV
81%
Access to Cellphones
94%
Access to TV
86%
Access to Cellphones
93%
of the population
aged over 20 years
passed matric
23%
of the population
aged over 20 years
passed matric
26%
of the population
aged over 20 years
passed matric
28%
Type of Housing
Formal: 78%
Informal: 14%
Type of Housing
Formal: 79%
Informal: 19%
Type of Housing
Formal: 84%
Informal: 15%
12 272 263
51% 49%

30. 28
How does my community compare?
51%
29,8
%
22
%
Western Cape
Mitchell’s Plain
Cape Metro
South Africa
UnemploymentPopulation
Access to Electricity Access to Toilets ** Access to Cellphones
Education: Matric *
*people 20 years and older
**Flush or chemical toilets
Source: Census 2011
Mitchell’s Plain 27%
Western Cape 27%
Cape Metro 30%
South Africa 28,4%Western Cape
5 822 734
South Africa
51 770 560
Mitchell’s Plain 90%
South Africa 89%
Mitchell’s Plain 95%
South Africa 57%
Mitchell’s Plain 99%
South Africa 85%
Western Cape 88%
Cape Metro 91%
Western Cape 89%
Cape Metro 91%
Western Cape 93%
Cape Metro 94%
26
%
49%
51%
49%
24
%
Cape Town
3 740 026
Mitchell’s Plain
282 042
Comparing Mitchell’s Plain to the Cape Town Metro, Western Cape and National numbers
Stats SA has released Census 2011 data at community level.This enables you to compare your community with provincial and national numbers.

31. Use Infographics To Boost Your Credibility And Traffic
by Melanie Haselmayr, 2003.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/allbusiness/2013/08/02/use-infographics-to-boost-your-credibility-and-traffic
“Eyes on the News”, by Dr. Mario Garcia and Dr. Pegie Stark
http://www.poynter.org
Bounford, Trevor and Alastair Campbell. Digital Diagrams:
How to Design and Present Statistical Information Effectively.
New York: Watson-Guptill, 2000.
http://www.poynter.org:
Why Visual Tools for Literacy Now?
Research and Results
http://www.educationalimpact.com/resources/VisualTools/pdf/1_research_and_results.pdf
Learning Styles: Concepts and Evidence
Harold Pashler, Mark McDaniel, Doug Rohrer, and Robert Bjork, 2008.
http://www.psychologicalscience.org/journals/pspi/PSPI_9_3.pdf
PPT for The Institute for the Advancement of Journalism: Infographics training workshop
Jai Kumar Sharma of Asia Media Design ( AMD)
references