They started out as a social media experiment and then suddenly everyone wanted a piece.

A couple years back, if you dropped the word ‘Infographic’ or ‘Dataviz’ in a conversation, you would have been greeted by a good number of confused looks even if you were among other web designers.

Today, so many infographics have gone viral that it’s practically impossible to ignore them. You’ll find them tweeted by your friends who want to share an interesting new find, promoted by companies eager to display their growth trends and utilized by even the White House for its progress reports.

No matter what you are searching for online, whether employment statistics or endangered animals, you are sure to find an infographic for it. If you, miraculously, aren’t able to recall any that you have seen, take a look at this list of the 10 best infographics of 2011 via Nowsourcing to catch up.

Infographics spice up ‘boring’ data



Infographics are useful because they turn historically lengthy and tedious bulks of data in to something that’s much more interesting: a visual.

As a society heading into the new decade, we want to read less and see more. While this doesn’t bode too well for book publishers, it’s opened a whole new creative area for designers.

An increasing number of companies and clients are recognizing the benefits of infographics and want their data jazzed up and dressed for the prom. They know that their assiduously compiled information has a far better chance of being read, appreciated, shared and widely circulated if it looks less like an annual report and more like the next big meme. And if you aren’t convinced yet, here’s an infographic on why you should use infographics.

You will need your existing skills. And more.



While the graphics used in infographics have become more eye-catching and sophisticated, they are not too different in purpose from the charts and graphs we used to make in high school. After all, the objective is still to present data in a more visually engaging and accessible way.

However, print and web designers are having a hard time transferring their existing skills to infographics because, as the many aspiring infographics designers will tell you, designing good infographics isn’t as simple as it looks. Sure, you still need the same essential aesthetic and technical skills but you should also be able to effectively translate data into visuals. Most importantly, you need to ensure that the infographic acts as an informative tool and not as a visual distraction.

The 7 rules of great infographic design



Whether you have just been asked by a client to create your very first infographic or you have been struggling with making good ones for a while, here are the 7 things you should know about designing great infographics:

1. Plan and sketch



Take some time- even half an hour is enough- to plan the infographic before you start copying the data on to your canvas. Think about the best way to visualize the information in front of you and how you should go about it.

2. Know when to go all the way out – and when to keep it simple

When infographics first exploded on the Internet, designers got a bit carried away. Everyone started competing with each other on who could come up with the most vibrant, ‘creative’ and convoluted piece of data visualization possible. Why go for a bar graph if you can show the same stats through readings on a barometer, right? WRONG. While the infographics produced as a result of this ill-directed movement proved effective for link baiting and viral purposes, they did not fulfill their real purpose. They had become more about form than function and the data was lost somewhere between the lurid typography, the over-the-top artwork and the esoteric representations. Data had become secondary even though infographics, by definition, are one half information and one half graphics. You should not go for a ‘great’ visual just for the sake of it if it obscures the data in any way. If your client insists on seeing unnecessary prodigious artwork, you should at least let them know why you think it does the data a disservice instead of a favor. Having said that, it’s important to note that extreme ‘minimalism’ doesn’t have a place in infographics either. You should allow the data to come to the surface but you should never be afraid to put on a show. Infographics are a great creatively challenging outlet that let you put your creative skills to a test by pitting them against your analytical ones. And we all love to see beautifully designed infographics that act as a great showcase for data. So yes, there is definitely room to go all out at times!

This Dott infographic, Cornwall by Design, visualizes everything the company does and makes it all come together in a glorious little dot.

Here is an example of a simple yet creative pie chart that eliminate the need for more elaborate artwork.