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Infographics sacrifice accuracy i.e. proportions, colors etc in favor of emotional appeal. Sometimes facts need to be packaged better for a greater impact. That

by arocks 13y ago

Infographics sacrifice accuracy i.e. proportions, colors etc in favor of emotional appeal. Sometimes facts need to be packaged better for a greater impact. That's why they are primarily used for promotional rather than for reporting purposes.

dragonwriter 13y ago
> Infographics sacrifice accuracy i.e. proportions, colors etc in favor of emotional appeal. Sometimes facts need to be packaged better for a greater impact. That's why they are primarily used for promotional rather than for reporting purposes. I think you have that backwards; "infographics" aren't really "information" + "graphics" but more like "infomercial" + "graphics", which is why they sacrifice accuracy -- or more generally effective communication of factual information, of which accuracy is a part -- in favor of emotional appeal. The choices that involve tradeoff of accuracy, etc., don't precede determination of the purpose.
- arocks 13y ago
  I think we are both talking the same thing. I was referring to the article which criticized the Infographic for its stress on form over function.
- vdaniuk 13y ago
  I take issue with your auto-discounting information presented in infographics. Infographics is a tool for conveying a message AND optimize for viral spread of this message. That is the reason for infographics to appeal to emotions, not necessarily to sell something. Infographics are used by all kinds of nonprofits, see http://www.good.is/infographics http://www.good.is/infographics
  - dragonwriter 13y ago
    > I take issue with your auto-discounting information presented in infographics. Okay, but you don't present anything that contradicts it. > Infographics is a tool for conveying a message AND optimize for viral spread of this message. Sure, infographics are a tool for conveying a desired message and encouraging its viral spread (they are a transmission medium for meme's in Dawkins original sense of the word as a replicating unit of behavior.) None of that is contrary to what I said. In fact, its pretty much a rewording of what I said. > That is the reason for infographics to appeal to emotions, not necessarily to sell something. Yes, the memes infographics are used to spread aren't always purchase decision memes. I don't think that does anything to change the fact that they sacrifice effective communication of factual information to serve their promotional purposes. > Infographics are used by all kinds of nonprofits So are infomercials; I think the comparison remains apt.

by arocks 13y ago

dragonwriter 13y ago

> Infographics sacrifice accuracy i.e. proportions, colors etc in favor of emotional appeal. Sometimes facts need to be packaged better for a greater impact. That's why they are primarily used for promotional rather than for reporting purposes. I think you have that backwards; "infographics" aren't really "information" + "graphics" but more like "infomercial" + "graphics", which is why they sacrifice accuracy -- or more generally effective communication of factual information, of which accuracy is a part -- in favor of emotional appeal. The choices that involve tradeoff of accuracy, etc., don't precede determination of the purpose.

arocks 13y ago
I think we are both talking the same thing. I was referring to the article which criticized the Infographic for its stress on form over function.
vdaniuk 13y ago
I take issue with your auto-discounting information presented in infographics. Infographics is a tool for conveying a message AND optimize for viral spread of this message. That is the reason for infographics to appeal to emotions, not necessarily to sell something. Infographics are used by all kinds of nonprofits, see http://www.good.is/infographics http://www.good.is/infographics
- dragonwriter 13y ago
  > I take issue with your auto-discounting information presented in infographics. Okay, but you don't present anything that contradicts it. > Infographics is a tool for conveying a message AND optimize for viral spread of this message. Sure, infographics are a tool for conveying a desired message and encouraging its viral spread (they are a transmission medium for meme's in Dawkins original sense of the word as a replicating unit of behavior.) None of that is contrary to what I said. In fact, its pretty much a rewording of what I said. > That is the reason for infographics to appeal to emotions, not necessarily to sell something. Yes, the memes infographics are used to spread aren't always purchase decision memes. I don't think that does anything to change the fact that they sacrifice effective communication of factual information to serve their promotional purposes. > Infographics are used by all kinds of nonprofits So are infomercials; I think the comparison remains apt.