informationgraphics

Information graphics, commonly referred to as infographics, are visual representations of information, data, or knowledge designed to convey complex ideas quickly and clearly. They combine data visualization, illustration, and concise text to tell a story, explain a concept, or present relationships among items.

Historically, information graphics draw on information design traditions dating back centuries. William Playfair is credited with inventing the bar chart, line chart, and pie chart in the late 18th century, laying the groundwork for modern statistical graphics. In the 20th century, newspapers, museums, and educational institutions expanded infographics into editorial and instructional materials. The field grew substantially with digital visualization in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, aided by scholars such as Edward Tufte and the rise of online data journalism and interactive graphics.

Infographics come in static and interactive forms. Common formats include charts and graphs, maps, timelines, diagrams, and process or workflow illustrations. Effective information graphics balance clarity and aesthetics, using layout, typography, color, and labeling to guide interpretation while maintaining accuracy and avoiding distortion. Accessibility considerations include legible type, sufficient contrast, and alternative text for digital images.

Applications span journalism, education, science communication, business analytics, government, and marketing. They support data literacy by translating numbers into interpretable visuals and by providing context, sources, and narrative structure.

Best practices emphasize accuracy, transparency about data sources, and avoidance of misleading cues such as cherry-picking or inappropriate scales. Designers should tailor graphics to the audience, keep them concise, and test readability across devices. Common tools range from vector graphics programs to interactive visualization libraries and dashboards.