We are in a new age. The interactive graphic has killed the humble pie chart. Graphical displays of complex information needn’t be flat and abstruse; instead they can be entertaining and engaging and, therefore, far more effective.
Many examples of this new breed of infographic can be found online, including this lovely example of what people were doing in 2008, courtesy of the New York Times. Here are some other examples:
- This is where we live
- Most used words from the nation’s inaugural addresses
- Home prices in selected cities
- A Microsoft – Yahoo deal
The lesson is this: when presented with the chance to tell a story with facts and figures, consider not only the graphical presentation of the information, but opportunities for the user to interact with that information as well. Doing so will allow users to go from passive to active, greatly improving the odds that they will also be engaged in the information exchange.
Do you have other examples? Please let me know!
Tags: infographic, Information Design
