El Arte Funcional

EL
ARTE
FUNCIONAL
infografa y visualizacin de informacin
www.elartefuncional.com
1
Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011
2008
http://
elections.nytimes.com/
2011
Twitter: @albertocairo
an infographic is a tool:
an aid to understanding
a means to answer questions
http://
http://
http://
Why so many journalists and designers

dont understand what infographics are
http://
Fernando Baptista
http://
http://
http://
Is it really art?
http://
Heres what comes to my mind when I think about art
http://
10
The Virgin of the Rocks
http://
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OK, that was ART, but then, what is this?
http://
12
Leonardos Notebooks
13
http://
What are the differences among them?
http://
14
Art can be subjective, it can help artists to express their feelings.

It can be beautiful just for the sake of being beautiful.
Scientific illustration (one of the disciplines infographics are based
on) must be precise, technical, objective, reliable. There must be a
correspondence between reality and its representation.
http://
15
Infographics = Functional art
http://
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Infographics = information engineering

We arrange data so they form visual patterns that
can be easily and quickly grasped by the readers
eye-brain system
http://
17
Infographics = information engineering

We arrange data so they form visual patterns that
can be easily and quickly grasped by the readers
eye-brain system
We create visual tools that readers can use to
explore the data that is presented to them and
discover truths we journalists may not be even
aware of when we are designing the display
http://
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http://
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http://
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http://
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The form should be restrained by the function

To choose the best graphic form think first about what
task or tasks your graphic PART
should1 facilitate
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Main steps on any infographics project

1. Define the focus, the story
2. Do some preliminary research
3. Choose graphic forms according to 1.
4. Sketches and storyboards; structure the information
5. Complete the research and write the copy
6. Create the graphics, maps and diagrams
7. Put it all together
23
http:
elections.nyti
The form should be restrained by the function

To choose the best graphic form think first about what
task or tasks your graphic PART
should1 facilitate
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PART 1
25
26
If I tell you that the first circle represents 80 billion...

27
If I tell you that the first bar represents 80 billion...
28
29
Same with graphics

Graphic forms to represent a data set should be
PART 1
chosen according to the intended tasks, to the
questions the graphic should help answering
30
31
http:
elections.nyti
PROBLEMS
1. It is difficult to successfully
compare the numbers (is
Brazils army much larger than
Colombias?).
2.Variables are not visually
related. Is there a correlation
between population and
military expenses? Brazil is the
most powerful country in
absolute terms but, what is
the most powerful one in
relative terms?
3. Should the map be the key
visual element of the graphic?
32
http:
elections.nyti
PROBLEMS
Colombias?).
relative terms?
33
http:
elections.nyti
PROBLEMS
Colombias?).
relative terms?
34
http:
elections.nyti
35
http:
elections.nyti
36
http:
elections.nyti
37
http:
elections.nyti
38
http:
elections.nyti
39
http:
elections.nyti
40
http:
elections.nyti
41
http:
elections.nyti
42
http:
elections.nyti
Sometimes, just one graphic form is not enough.

You need to represent the data set with different
PART
1
shapes to allow different
answers
43
http://revistaepoca.globo.com/Revista/Epoca/0,,EMI238256-17445,00.html
44
Above all, dont lie
45
an introduction
46
an introduction
47
an introduction
48
49
50
51
52
53
Problem is, sometimes you lie

even if you dont want to...
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Is the Web really dying?
Graphic: Wired
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Is the Web really dying?
Graphic: BoingBoing
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The importance of specialization

an introduction
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Alberto (Research, planning, statistical charts, cartography)

(Intern) (Research, planning)
Vergotti (Design, Art)
Gerson (3D, Illustration)
Salomo (Design, iPad)
Rodrigo (Research , Illustration, Design)
David (Online design, video) an introduction
Pedro (3D, motion graphics, video)
Gerardo (Web design, programming, databases)
Erik (Programming, databases)
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The Wave
59
60
http:
elections.nyti
61
http:
elections.nyti
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http:
elections.nyti
63
http:
elections.nyti
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http:
elections.nyti
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http:
elections.nyti
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The most important lessons:
Think about information and structure first

Think about aesthetics afterwards
Never distort the data to make
the graphic beautiful
an introduction
67
EL ARTE
FUNCIONAL
infografa y visualizacin de informacin
alberto.cairo@gmail.com
Twitter - @albertocairo
www.visualopolis.com
68

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Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Why so many journalists and designers

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Heres what comes to my mind when I think about art

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

The Virgin of the Rocks

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

OK, that was ART, but then, what is this?

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

What are the differences among them?

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Art can be subjective, it can help artists to express their feelings.

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Infographics = Functional art

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Infographics = information engineering

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Infographics = information engineering

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

The form should be restrained by the function

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Main steps on any infographics project

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

The form should be restrained by the function

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

If I tell you that the first circle represents 80 billion...

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

If I tell you that the first bar represents 80 billion...

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Same with graphics

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Sometimes, just one graphic form is not enough.

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Above all, dont lie

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011

Copyright: Alberto Cairo 2011