Too many offenses to sensible data visualization to list. It's unfortunate, too, because there are some compelling stats lost in the cartoony graphics.
I totally agree, Alberto! Thanks for linking to your post. Too commonly, people are referring to graphics like this one when they think of infographics.
Also, I was reminded by your comment that you and I both pontificated on the future of infographics with related thoughts last year in this article: http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2013/06/future-visual-content-predictions-about-infographics/
I agree with you two as well. Maybe we can find a way to re-purpose these into something useful. Similar to how CDs now make good drink coasters... j/k
Agree the Gates example is a poorly rendered imitation of a useful info graphic. What is with poor old Bill and gaudy graphics ?
Whereas I cam across this last week which does brilliant job of rendering a very wide dataset into an instantly digestible graphic and does so with 'Tuftian' like restraint in the colour pallet which only enhances the communication http://hbrblogs.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/bainfographics_birthdates.jpg
It's an example from this book (I have not read it yet) http://www.amazon.com/Best-American-Infographics-2013-Series/dp/0547973373
Cole, I'd like to assure you that none of the BMGF folks who attended your Seattle workshop had anything to do with creating this! In fact, I'm 99% sure it was created outside the foundation.
The word "infographic" used to mean something different than that, as I explained here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thefunctionalart.com/2012/12/claiming-word-infographics-back.html
We need to bring it back to its original meaning
I totally agree, Alberto! Thanks for linking to your post. Too commonly, people are referring to graphics like this one when they think of infographics.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I was reminded by your comment that you and I both pontificated on the future of infographics with related thoughts last year in this article: http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2013/06/future-visual-content-predictions-about-infographics/
Wow! Bill's tie has a lot of disease on it! :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you two as well. Maybe we can find a way to re-purpose these into something useful. Similar to how CDs now make good drink coasters... j/k
Agree the Gates example is a poorly rendered imitation of a useful info graphic. What is with poor old Bill and gaudy graphics ?
ReplyDeleteWhereas I cam across this last week which does brilliant job of rendering a very wide dataset into an instantly digestible graphic and does so with 'Tuftian' like restraint in the colour pallet which only enhances the communication
http://hbrblogs.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/bainfographics_birthdates.jpg
It's an example from this book (I have not read it yet)
http://www.amazon.com/Best-American-Infographics-2013-Series/dp/0547973373
Cole, I'd like to assure you that none of the BMGF folks who attended your Seattle workshop had anything to do with creating this! In fact, I'm 99% sure it was created outside the foundation.
ReplyDelete