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Infographics speak volumesBusy readers appreciate good, simple informational graphics that

visually tell them a story.

Good infographics are based on the purist design strategies: they are

clean and they are focused on just a few ideas. The best ones are

small and concentrate on basic information, without attempting to

be too textbook-like or encyclopedic in approach. A complicated

graphic defies its purpose.

Here are some tips, as recommended by infographics specialist Jeff

Goertzen, whose award-winning infographic work has appeared in

newspapers throughout the world:

Start planning early for successful graphic presentation. Get ideas

down on paper soon, probably right after the reporter/artist. What

is the aim of the graphic? What is it supposed to communicate to

the reader? If the graphic accompanies a story, how does it

enhance the story telling process?

Research the content of the graphic, taking into account that some-

times readers will look at a graphic before they read the story

accompanying it. Those designing a graphic should ask editors and

reporters for leads, set up interviews with reliable sources, consult

websites, and take photos to use as factual visual data. Research is

the key to a graphic that communicates in an authoritative manner.

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Have reporters and editors proofread the first possible draft of it.

Write a good headline, remembering not to repeat what the

headline of the story says. Use the opportunity to enhance another

level of the storytelling process.

Ultimately, a good infographic should be visually aesthetic.

Readers enter a graphic to get information, but it is visual appeal

that leads them to it first. Content comes first, visuals come second.

The combination of the two, plus effective research makes the best

infographics.

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Charts, bars, and maps:When John Miller and AaronKenedi redesign any new maga-zine, strongly branded info-graphics are always a primaryfocus. Often they work withsepcialists, such as artistStephanie Heald, to developsimple, pared-down charts andgraphs that are effective story-telling tools and help extendthe publication’s brand.