Rescuing Infographics or Making them right

Readers here know my impatience with what are called infographics.  More set up to look graphically impressive and clever than to inform.  I don't think they can be rescued in their current form.  Do give me a clutterless line chart when it truly informs.  This article looks at efforts in the 40s that were meant to do both.  " ... I think one of the key missing pieces is analytics. Most of today's infographics seemingly are a result of treating data as flowers to be arranged. There is little analytical thinking behind what the data mean. Incidentally, that is why the new NYU certificate is not called Certificate in Data Visualization--we wanted to emphasize the importance of analytics next to datavis. ... "  I believe that all data visualization should be the base form of analytics ... if it can't be used for that, it is wrong.

Generating Infographics

Had reason to look at how to quickly generate simple infographics, and found this review and list of free options.  The intent is to use it to create examples that would later be given to a graphic artist to improve.  Still, you have to be a graphics designer to do this well ... which I am not, but it is nice to know you can build some simple things with template generators.  Any other suggestions for methods?

Generating Infographics

Have had cause to look at how to effectively and cheaply generate infographics.   I have criticized the infographics form a number of times here, but do like the storytelling aspect of their use.   Once complex numerical values are included, it is far better to use data visualization to act as the bedrock of providing understanding.

Along the way discovered this review of free online Infographics generators.

   Still, you have to be a graphics designer to do this well ... which I am not, but it is nice to know you can build some simple things with template generators.     Why also not use slide and word processing packages, which can now integrate visuals easily, and have their own template libraries?

Thoughts?

Visualization Books: Incomplete

The Economist looks at a number of information and data visualization books.  What they look at is good, but is very incomplete.  Largely based on infographics, and does not include the ability to interact with changing data.   When I see something that is called an 'infographic' or is clearly that, it screams to me that it is both incomplete and static.  Thus fundamentally wrong.   Lots new is out there today.  Worth a scan.

Visual.ly Addresses Data Visualization

I followed Visual.ly for some time, and saw them as primarily a provider of infographics, which I was less than interested in.  They have opened a new set of capabilities, which is more interesting.  Have not looked at yet:   " ... Visually, the leading producer and distribution channel for data visualizations, today launches the first-ever Data Visualization Marketplace and Project Center. Designed to help companies extract value from their data and provide it to stakeholders in a digestible, easy-to-understand format, the added benefit is fewer poorly designed, useless graphics littering the Web. Visually's new Project Center will deliver high quality data visualizations at unprecedented speed and at a scale that can keep up with businesses' needs, without sacrificing the analysis and design quality for which Visually is known.... "