6 Reasons Why Infographics and Data Visualization Works by Matthew Fields.
Here are the reasons (see the post for reasons and the infographic):
- Short Attention Spans
- Information Overload
- Easy to Understand
- Reading Retention
- More Engaging
- People Love Sharing Infographics
What I find interesting is the effective use of text before you get to the infographic.
And there are some points I would add to the list:
- No Thinking Required
- Reinforces Prejudices
- Shallow Understanding
- Infographic Replaces Data
The last one, Infographic Replaces Data, is the most dangerous.
The debate shifts from what the data may or may not show, upon additional analysis, to what the infographic may or may not show.
Do you see the shift? If you allow me (or anyone else) to create an infographic, we have implicitly defined the boundaries of discussion. We are no longer talking about the “data” (although we may use that terminology) but about an infographic that has replaced the data.
In other words, if you don’t agree with the infographic, you have already lost the debate. Because we are not debating the “data,” but rather my infographic. Which I fashioned because it supports my opinion, obviously.
Thinking infographics as brainwashed data would not be too far off the mark.
Some infographics are worse than others, in terms of shifting the basis for discussion. I will round up some good examples for a future post.