More recently it has become apparent that Infographics have become quite popular and successful. Being able to portray information effectively in a visually appealing manner has led to an increase of these story telling images.
This article aims to touch upon what an infographic is, why they have become common, what the future holds for infographics design, and even touches upon the new format infographics – interactive infographics.
Inforgraphics: The Way Forward with Interaction
What is an Infographic?
An infographic is a graphical element which helps to visualise a particular piece or pieces of information. The information that it being represented can be in the form of images or text, and it aims to explain that in the simplest arrangement.
Why Have Infographics Become so Popular?
There are a number of reasons why infographics have become popular, the main ones can be thought of as being the following:
- Easy to understand – Information that can be depicted in a style which is clear, concise and informative can naturally become easier to read and understand. This could be a leading factor in the increase of their popularity.
- Easy to share – As they provide an easy way to understand potentially complex material, which is visually appealing and fun, it can be argued that people are encouraged to share it.
- Easy links – if an infographic is easy to understand, easy to share, and provides easy access to deeper content, then as it becomes a link, it also becomes “link bait”.
The Future of Infographics?
It has to be said that since the “boom” of infographics there have been bundles of infographics online and offline. There have been tutorials, guides, and showcases, but what is next? Given the ever evolving nature of the internet and the continuous development of technology, it seems that interactive infographics may be the next generation of infographics.
What is an Interactive Infographic?
With the use of HTML5 and CSS3 interactive infographics could be the next step for static infographics.
The combination of these two technologies brings in interaction to the final “image” enriching the user experience and engaging the visitor for longer.
They are most useful and informative on websites where certain information is best represented in graphical form. Examples of interactive infographics can be seen below.
HTML5 Interactive Infographic featuring Dribbble
The Evolution of Western Dance Music!
How Different Groups Voted in Republican Primaries
Mastering the Social Media Universe
Top World Cup Players on Facebook, Day by Day
Organised Crime: The World’s Largest Social Network
Web Design Related Infographics
Infographic: Website Privacy Standards
WTF is HTML5 and Why We Should Care
How the Web Keeps Getting More Beautiful
Top 10 Fonts Web Designers Love
12 Critical Elements Every Homepage Must Have
Most Important CSS3 Properties
Conclusion
For a while, static infographics were considered to be the best form of portraying information in a visual manner. More recently, with the development of certain technologies (HTML5 and CSS3) as well as the ever evolving development of mobiles, tablets and such devices, could it be that the future of infographics is with interaction?
Let us know your thoughts!