mario garcia
Infographics speak volumes Busy readers appreciate good, simple informational graphics that visually tell them a story. Good infographics are based on the purist design strategies: they are clean and they are focused on just a few ideas. The best ones are small and concentrate on basic information, without attempting to be too textbook-like or encyclopedic in approach. A complicated graphic defies its purpose. Here are some tips, as recommended by infographics specialist Jeff Goertzen, whose award-winning infographic work has appeared in newspapers throughout the world: 
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Start planning early for successful graphic presentation. Get ideas down on paper soon, probably right after the reporter/artist. What is the aim of the graphic? What is it supposed to communicate to the reader? If the graphic accompanies a story, how does it enhance the story telling process? Research the content of the graphic, taking into account that sometimes readers will look at a graphic before they read the story accompanying it. Those designing a graphic should ask editors and reporters for leads, set up interviews with reliable sources, consult websites, and take photos to use as factual visual data. Research is the key to a graphic that communicates in an authoritative manner.
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Have reporters and editors proofread the first possible draft of it. Write a good headline, remembering not to repeat what the headline of the story says. Use the opportunity to enhance another level of the storytelling process.
Ultimately, a good infographic should be visually aesthetic. Readers enter a graphic to get information, but it is visual appeal that leads them to it first. Content comes first, visuals come second. The combination of the two, plus effective research makes the best infographics. 
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mario garcia
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Charts, bars, and maps: When John Miller and Aaron Kenedi redesign any new magazine, strongly branded infographics are always a primary focus. Often they work with sepcialists, such as artist Stephanie Heald, to develop simple, pared-down charts and graphs that are effective storytelling tools and help extend the publication’s brand.
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