But what is an infographic? A simple, yet powerful definition of an infographic is provided by a group of students within a text by Turner and Hicks (2017). The group of students defined an infographic as "any static visual presentation that creatively incorporates the use of words, statistics, and images in order to convey a message" (pg. 63). By this definition, there are many infographics out there in the world, but only few of the many are effective in their design. Turner and Hicks (2017, p. 62) also list some recurring themes of effective infographics that are important to keep in mind when determining the credibility of an infographic or deciding how to incorporate an infographic within an argument. These themes include the data within the infographic having a captivating storyline, having reliable sources, being visually engaging and pleasing, and being easy to land in the eyes of the public.
Check out this short video that aligns with Turner's and Hicks' views and explains what makes an effective infographic:
Also, check out this Hubspot blog that lays out the dos and don'ts for creating an effective infographic.
Because infographics are used to enhance the argument of the writer, one of the most important pieces of infographics are their design. The audience of the infographic needs to be visually engaged and interested so that the message can be conveyed appropriately. For this to happen, the designer needs to apply CRAP design. According to Turner and Hicks (2017), CRAP design is a "simple set of criteria on which to base effective designs: contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity" (p. 40).
References
Easelly: Infographic Design Tips & Tutorials. (2018, September 24). What makes an effective infographic? Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl9ZcfKt8sY
L Toner. (2017, July 28). 8 dos and don'ts for creating effective infographics. Retrieved from https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/dos-and-donts-infographic-creation
Turner, K.H., & Hicks, T. (2017). Argument in the real world: Teaching adolescents to read and write digital texts. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
I loved reading your post. I completely agree that infographics can enhance the argument made by the writer. “There are times when it makes sense not to write information in sentences. Visual texts sometimes do the job better” (Hicks, 2013, p. 66). However, like you stated, the design of the infographic must be carefully considered in order to convey your message. Good material that supports your argument can get lost if it is not presented clearly. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the hyperlink you posted to the 8 do’s and don’ts for creating an infographic. Writers need to consider these elements in order to create a strong argument through an infographic.
ReplyDeleteYour CRAP (the good stuff) presentation is so silly, yet informative! “A good presentation is the result of a great deal of writing that never shows up on the slides but becomes part of the words spoken by the writer” (Hicks, 2013, p. 67). This reminds me of what they taught us at Montevallo. Visuals are best!
ReplyDeleteYour presentation of knowledge and ideas by making strategic use of digital media and visual displays according to Hicks (2013) is an effective way of assessing presentations. The CRAP design of proximity to text and visual effects helps readers to demonstrate the importance of presentations in a digital argument. I like the use of background colors emphasizing the importance of the CRAP design. Great job!
ReplyDelete