Glossary A–ZLetter I
Infographic
An infographic presents figures, processes or relationships as an image, with charts, symbols, maps and short texts, so that they can be grasped faster than running text.
It combines information and design in one presentation.
On screens, infographics work well for processes such as “How the collection point works”, for trends such as a building's energy consumption, or for comparisons such as waiting times by weekday. Unlike in print or on a website, the viewer often has only a few seconds. A screen infographic therefore shows one key message and a few values, not the entire analysis.
Operators should design infographics for the reading distance: large figures, few colours, strong contrasts and no small labels on axes. Long infographics can be split into several consecutive images that each make sense on their own. If the figures change regularly, a template with a data connection is better than a static graphic. Charts must not mislead through truncated axes or distorted areas.