VISUAL STORY TELLING:
Creating Better Informational
• OUR PURPOSE: Achieve better integration of
Graphics
informational graphics into learning visuals by combining
content with appropriate and creative metaphors, thereby
creating a more compelling experience for clients.
Our goal is the combination of intellectual
engagement with enjoyable sensual perception, which can
result in ‘synesthesia’ — a state of understanding that
forms long lasting connections within the memory. In other
words, by taking complex data and turning it into
accessible charts with interesting images, our clients and
readers can digest that data more easily. We want to push
both the intellectual and emotional buttons at the same
time to make sure they better remember what they’re
learning and achieve a full nexus of meaning.
Presented by Ben Garrison
By making better use of creative metaphor,
information becomes easier to understand. For any
subject there are dozens of metaphors, and while we
should generally avoid obvious clichés, those too can be
good if given creative treatment or a clever twist. By this
means we can connect the two universes: The left
and right ones. The microscopic with the telescopic. The
detailed micro view with the holistic macro view.
Chart ideas: Basic vs.
Elaborate
• TOP: Here is a chart that
is presented in a typical
and perfunctory manner. It
has been done this way for
a reason: Time. Of course,
what time really means is
money. Charts often
change in size and content,
therefore it is easy and
more cost effective if the
designer handles the
changes in an expeditious
manner without involving
the conceptor in rigorous,
lengthy redraws.
• BOTTOM: Here is a
learning map that better
integrates an info graphic
into the visual. There has
been extra time and care
taken to make the data
entertaining while at the
same time allowing the
reader to quickly grasp
what the data mean. (The
word ‘data’ is plural).
Choosing the right chart
It will be necessary for the
team to understand proper chart
selection after examining and
understanding the data.
Charts show trends and
statistics — numbers — to the
reader. This could be done with
words and figures on plain white
paper, but humans can
assimilate numerical data much
faster when visuals make those
statistics clearer. Root Learning
employs four types of charts for
this purpose:
• BAR CHART
• FEVER CHART
• PIE CHART
• TABLE CHART
In addition to the big four, there
are also chronologies, timelines
and organizational charts (flow
charts) to consider as well
milestones and factoid
statements. There are other
kinds of charts (scatter, area,
polygon, etc), but those are
Crossing the
Bar
• BAR CHARTS: This type of
chart is perhaps most commonly
used on Root maps. Use a bar
chart when there is a need to
show relationships between a
number of items in common time
frame. They’re interesting to look
at when amounts vary, but they
are also useful when showing
small differences in amounts.
The eye can readily pick up
those differences and that makes
the bar chart a better choice over
fever charts.
Inspiration comes from many sources: Old quotes, iconic
images, a Thesaurus, photos, illustrations and the world
around us. This idea came by looking at artwork by Spanish
illustrators. The iconic image was quickly adapted to
accommodate this bar chart — which is completely fanciful.
Bars work best as a
comparison and contrast
between amounts. For example,
a how many cars are sold by
different car companies in a
single year.
The bars can be horizontal
or vertical or at angles as long as
the x and y axis labels are clearly
understood. It’s best never to put
bar charts in radical perspective
Fever Pitch
• FEVER CHARTS: These are
used to track progress or quantity
over a period of time. The name
derives from hospital charts used to
track the fever of a patient over
time.
At left is a sample of how a fever
chart can be creatively presented
with dimension for a learning map.
Rather than present the data as a flat 2-D
chart as seen on the left, the artist combined
subject with substance.
NOTE: Chart was produced for this presentation ONLY. Data is
not confirmed.
These charts show trends over
time, such as prices of an object.
The dates usually run across the
bottom while a heavy line travels
across a gridline. Since the fever
line depends on the amount and
spacing of the gridlines used, this
chart can easily be distorted and
exaggerate the data. In other words,
if the data make a flat line, do not
adjust or crop off the vertical scale
at left (Y axis) in order to force
contrast to the data, because that
would be the equivalent of making
statistics lie. Also, make sure there
are plenty of data points. Two or
Baking a Pie
• PIE CHARTS: These charts are perhaps the
most problematic of the bunch and can easily
be misused and cause confusion. The slices
correspond as a percentage of the whole of the
circle and are valid for ONE point in time only. It
is best not to have too many slices. This is
because a circle does not lend itself to a lot of
labels and too many slices involve too many
colors which can be difficult to see and only add
to the confusion. If there are more than a half
dozen slices or so, use a bar chart because
distances are more easily and accurately
estimated than area.
Again, pie charts should only be used when
the percentages add up to 100 percent. If they
don’t, the reader should see a line explaining
why.
Ideally, a pie chart should be presented as a
simple, flat circle and not angled. That’s not
always easy to do on maps with a lot of
perspective. This chart is based on invented
data.
Usually the circle should stay as just that.
Pie wedges are hard enough to interpret and if
perspective is added to a circle (changed to an
oval) then it could appear as if the data are
being distorted. Labeling a pie is difficult
enough without adding perspective, so make
sure the slices are limited to only a few if this is
attempted. Avoid adding depth to the slices as
Tabs and
Tables
• TABLE CHARTS: These charts should
be used when the data is variable. Tables
show actual numbers arranged in a way
that clarify relationships. Essentially grids
with rows and columns of ordered data,
tables are used when the data are
unsuited to the previous three chart
formats. For example, the numbers may
range from a mere few to a million on an
individual subject. That would make a
ridiculous looking bar chart, making a
table the way to go.
Tables are also best used when there
is description and/or commentary needed.
Those words should be kept well-edited
and brief.
Tables do not have to look boring. In this
example, the artist (Ben Garrison) decided to
warp the table to help reflect the passage of
time and reflect the quirks involved.
It is easy to overwhelm and overdo
tables, so the amount should be kept to a
reasonable amount — usually no more
than eight columns .
Consider arranging the table in a
logical manner. For example, list the
columns by order of company importance,
or amounts large to small, or alphabetical
Other
Considerations
These are graphic devices not often used on maps, but perhaps underused. They all lend
themselves to creative treatments.
• CHRONOLOGIES:
These do not generally
appear on maps. They
are used instead of
timelines when the
dates are uneven and
when more description
is needed. Like a table,
• TIMELINES: Often words on paper
a grid format can be
presentations, timelines can easily be pulled out
also be used.
and put on maps to create a sense of history and
give readers a sense of where things will be
going. Timelines should have enough going on
through the years to make it worthwhile. Also,
the dates shouldn’t all bunch up on one date and
then have long gaps with nothing going on. If
that’s the case, use a chronology instead.
• MILESTONES: Are
usually found on
paths, roads or even
at sea. They mark
and describe goals or
targets reached along
the journey. They can
appear on many
items including rocks,
signs or buoys.
• ORGANIZATIONAL
or FLOW CHARTS:
Show hierarchies and
connections. The
circuitry involved could
utilize some very
interesting and creative
metaphors on learning
maps.
• LISTS, GLOSSARIES
and FACTOIDS: Lists
are usually put down
with numbers to list
order of importance, or
in alphabetical order.
Factoids and glossaries
are useful to explain the
key words and
meaningful concepts.
What to
avoid
Samples of charts that are hard to follow and
distort data
Adding too much depth and multi tones
makes the chart much harder to read
than necessary. It’s best to keep charts
in two dimensions.
Be careful when
adding depth
and perspective
on pie charts.
The two dark
blue wedges are
the same
percentage, but
notice how the
one on the
bottom looks
larger due to
being in the front
and having
depth added to
Using art instead of bars can be very
misleading. We see here badly-drawn boxes
on a palette. Exports went up from 100 to 300
(y axis figures are not clear), but the chart
shows more than vertical height. It also shows
area: 2007 is nine times larger than 2005.
Avoid common mistakes:
• Avoid plastering on too much color. These are charts,
not carnivals. Color should clarify, not decorate. (Also
consider the color blind). Think of color as information
itself. Use it intelligently.
• AVOID PUTTING ALL CAPS ON SENTENCES. It’s
hard to read.
• Avoid busy backgrounds on charts as well as ornate
fonts.
• Avoid using point sizes on fonts that are too small or
too large.
• Avoid using an overwhelming amount of space to