Building A Better Infographic

VISUALIZATION
Building a Better Infographic: How to tell stories visually
Alberto Cairo, University of Miami

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo
Anybody can learn visualization
Anybody can benefit from learning how to visualize information

Student: Deb Pang Davis

SLIDES
AND OTHER RESOURCES

A visualization is a
representation designed to
enable exploration,
discovery, or communication

What visualizations are made of

Elements of a visualization: Complete chart Scaffolding Content
Murders Murders Murders

1. Scaffolding/framework
Rate per 100,000 people (2015) Rate per 100,000 people (2015) Rate per 100,000 people (2015)
Features that support the content

such as legends, scales, axes, etc.
2. Aesthetics/encodings
0 3 6 9 >9 0 3 6 9 >9 0 3 6 9 >9
(Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports) (Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports) (Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports)
The features that represent the data

Complete chart Scaffolding Content

3. Annotations and copy Rate per 100,000 people Rate per 100,000 people Rate per 100,000 people
Text on the visualization itself that

12 12 12
8 8 8
explains data points, put them in 4 4 4
context, or connects one chart to the 0 0 0
next one to form a narrative or story.

1996 2002 2008 2014 1996 2002 2008 2014 1996 2002 2008 2014

Data visualization consists of mapping data into features of
objects (commonly —but not only— abstract shapes.) These
features are called encodings, methods of encoding, or aesthetics
Source: https://serialmentor.com/dataviz/aesthetic-mapping.html

Length or height
A A
B B
C C
D D
E A B C D E E
Position Area
A
B A A B
B C
C C E
D D D
E
E
Visual encodings
Angle/area Line weight
A B C D E A B C D E
Hue and shade
A B C D E
Figures represented
in all these graphics:
A B C D E 22%, 25%, 34%, 29%, 32%

What methods of encoding can you spot here?
https://polygraph-cool.github.io/asne/dev/

Elements of a visualization: Complete chart Scaffolding Content

1. Scaffolding/framework
Rate per 100,000 people (2015) Rate per 100,000 people (2015) Rate per 100,000 people (2015)
Features that support the content

such as legends, scales, axes, etc.
2. Aesthetics/encodings
0 3 6 9 >9 0 3 6 9 >9 0 3 6 9 >9
The features that represent the data

Complete chart Scaffolding Content

3. Annotations and copy Rate per 100,000 people Rate per 100,000 people Rate per 100,000 people
Text on the visualization itself that

12 12 12
8 8 8
explains data points, put them in 4 4 4
context, or connects one chart to the 0 0 0
next one to form a narrative or story.

1996 2002 2008 2014 1996 2002 2008 2014 1996 2002 2008 2014

Spoken annotations
https://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_shows_the_best_stats_you_ve_ever_seen?language=es
www.gapminder.org
When designing a visualization,
decisions about its style, its
encodings, and its visual design
depend on its purpose


Standard visualizations:
Appropriate for graphics you use all the time
Congressional Budget Office

Standard visualizations:
Appropriate for graphics you use all the time
2014 Partisan Advantages Among Whites,

by Year of Birth
MORE DEMOCRATIC/ MORE REPUBLICAN/

DEMOCRATIC LEANING REPUBLICAN LEANING
YEAR OF
BIRTH +30 +20 +10 0 +10 +20 +30 AGE
1996 18
Individual year
Millennial
3-year rolling
average
1981 33
Generation X
1965 49
Baby Boomer
2014 overall:
+8.6R
1946 68
Silent Generation
1929 85
+30 +20 +10 0 +10 +20 +30
Source: Merged Pew Research Center surveys conducted in 2014.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Pew Research Center

https://graphics.reuters.com/ENVIRONMENT-PLASTIC/0100B275155/index.html


Afghanistan
24%
Syria Iran
47% Iraq 3% Pakistan
15% 0%
4%
Total
Others
Iran 3% Syria 47% Syria
Pakistan 6%
Afghanistan 24% Afghanistan
5%
Iraq 15% Iraq
Iraq 15% Pakistan 5% Pakistan

47% Syria
Iran 3% Iran
24% Palestine 1% Palestine
Algeria 1% Algeria
Afghanistan Others 4% Others

http://www.datavizcatalogue.com/
https://github.com/ft-interactive/chart-doctor/blob/master/visual-vocabulary/Visual-vocabulary.pdf

But choosing encodings and
making other design decisions
is a bit trickier than it seems

Design also consists of organizing information to enable understanding

Design also consists of organizing information to enable understanding
30 30
25 25
Average
Sub-Saharan Africa 20 20
Each country 15 15
Other countries
10 10
5 5
MAURITANIA MOZAMBIQUE CAPE VERDE SENEGAL
0 0
07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14
30 30
25 25
20 20
15 15
10 10
5 5
MALI* NIGER* RWANDA SIERRA LEONE* CENTRAL AFRICAN R.
0 0
07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14

Reduce clutter
Too cluttered

Reduce clutter 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
No catch declarations
FR (<10 m in IT and ES)
Paper catch declarations

(>=10<12 m. Include >10 for FR and UK
IT
A bit better Paper catch declarations
(>=12<15 m)
ES Electronic declarations
(>=12<15 m)
Electronic declarations
(>=15)
UK

Reduce clutter Graphics by Julius Dewald
System TooStd.
Average Burned Area % cluttered
Deviation
Lupande GMA 65.16 12.89
Total Burned Area
South Lugnwa NP 31.89 9.67

Early Dry Season

Middle Dry Season

Late Dry Season
Reduce clutter Graphics by Julius Dewald
System Average Burned Area % Std. Deviation

Total Burned Area

Early Dry Season

Middle Dry Season

Late Dry Season
Don’t show data.
Explain it and build a
narrative based on it to
put it in context
It’s an
1. Begin by writing a long opportunity!
sentence that summarizes
the points you want to
make, and how they “This happened…”
connect to each other
2. Split that long sentence

into its components, using
natural breaks “…and then…”
3. Transform those pieces “…but

into the sections of your then “…and then…”
infographic. Illustrate them this…”
with the appropriate charts,
maps, diagrams, etc. “…and finally…”
Example of
how to structure
an infographic
as a narrative

Begin with a
good title (or
headline)

Continue by
providing a
summary of the
story or
highlighting the
main takeaways

Continue by
providing a
summary of the
story or
highlighting the
main takeaways

Provide
explanations,
if possible

Provide
explanations,
if possible

Provide
explanations,
if possible

Finish with a
conclusion, if
appropriate
And don’t forget

the byline and
sources
RESOURCES
http://www.thefunctionalart.com/p/instructors-guide.html

Other articles and materials
Graphics style guides

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/v45znrv6iqnoqj7/
AAB3ftvmfGdC3Bfugrkko7x6a?dl=0
The Financial Times series of articles about data visualization

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9hbdxqsoel4n3zy/
AABh1k59lSo4dUb765DbLxjHa?dl=0
Various articles about data visualization

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/elp612msxsawrkq/AABga-
vZ_0McK30_zEThEtW1a?dl=0

https://hdsr.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/zok97i7p
Books available online
https://serialmentor.com/dataviz/ https://r4ds.had.co.nz/
Fundamentals
Exploratory/scientific visualization
Business analytics
History, inspiration, and examples
Mapping
THANKS!

Building A Better Infographic

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VISUALIZATION

Building a Better Infographic: How to tell stories visually

Alberto Cairo, University of Miami

Anybody can benefit from learning how to visualize information

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Murders Murders Murders

Features that support the content

The features that represent the data

Murders Murders Murders

Text on the visualization itself that

explains data points, put them in 4 4 4

context, or connects one chart to the 0 0 0

next one to form a narrative or story.

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Hue and shade

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Murders Murders Murders

Features that support the content

The features that represent the data

Murders Murders Murders

Text on the visualization itself that

explains data points, put them in 4 4 4

context, or connects one chart to the 0 0 0

next one to form a narrative or story.

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Congressional Budget Office

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

2014 Partisan Advantages Among Whites,

MORE DEMOCRATIC/ MORE REPUBLICAN/

Source: Merged Pew Research Center surveys conducted in 2014.

Pew Research Center

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Iraq 15% Pakistan 5% Pakistan

24% Palestine 1% Palestine

Afghanistan Others 4% Others

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Paper catch declarations

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo

Lupande GMA 25.23 20.39

Lupande GMA 51.13 17.60

Lupande GMA 23.65 16.13

System Average Burned Area % Std. Deviation

Lupande GMA 25.23 20.39

Lupande GMA 51.13 17.60

Lupande GMA 23.65 16.13

2. Split that long sentence

3. Transform those pieces “…but

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo