The infographic demographic

Numbers. Lots and lots of numbers. Sometimes facts and data can be really intimidating. That’s why infographics are so valuable: When we see complex data represented visually, we’re better able to decipher and retain it, and therefore better able to share it with others.

In this video, designer Francesco Franchi explains what he calls “infographic thinking”: “What we are doing is a kind of visual journalism ­— it means a combination between graphic and narrative, so it is at the same time a representation but also an interpretation of the reality.” At best, infographics not only allows us to connect with the data almost effortlessly, but engages our critical faculties and invites us to interpret it.

For a very long time, infographics were used mainly for technical drawings, maps and scientific documentation. Now we are seeing them all over the web, in magazines, throughout social networking and in our newspapers. Many go viral within days of their launch, spreading information for everyone to easily access.

Good infographics are clean, direct and self-explanatory. They immediately grab our attention and focus it on information that we might have otherwise overlooked. They blend a variety of constructs: typography, webs, charts, graphs, hierarchies, maps, symbolic iconography, and visuals that rely heavily on shape and color. All of these techniques are used to break down information so it is more approachable and understandable.

Companies can easily brand infographics to support their role in a particular field or use them for endorsements. Teachers can use infographics to engage their students. Organizations can use them to display statistics or for recruitment. The possibilities are virtually endless.

It’s estimated that 65% of all people are visual learners. So if you need to convey complex information, and you want your audience to retain it, infographics are the way to go!