Visual Research Data: an Infographics Primer

Abstract

[From the introduction] They may be a hot topic in health research and libraries, but infographics are not new. Information visualizations have a long history of use in medicine, particularly epidemiology. Now ubiquitous in modern urban landscapes, infographics are rebranded knowledge assemblages for an information age. Amateur designers use web-based tools to create ephemeral infographics that are rapidly disseminated via social media networks. The best examples of graphic data displays utilize established design principles to increase the impact of scholarly research. Inexpensive or free web tools can provide graphic elements and design templates, but effective information visualizations still require compelling data and logical narratives. Infographics communicate research findings, but the immense scale of production makes classification, description, access, and preservation challenging.