I recently read an article about infographics on Co.Design and it really hit a nerve, because it
relates to something that has been annoying me for a long time. How often do
people simply accept the information presented in these visuals and the results
that they supposedly portray without questioning either the data sources or the
method of presentation?
In this particular article, Cliff Kuang shows a very
specific example of how the same data can be portrayed on three separate bar
graphs with each graph telling the viewer a very different story. On one hand,
this isn’t really anything new – it’s just another way that people “creatively”
use statistics to back up their own beliefs and statistics. But, there’s really
more than that going on here.
In many cases, infographic designers probably aren’t really
trying to misrepresent the data through the means they use to portray it.
Often, they’re just focusing on making a powerful visual statement because, as
graphic designers, that’s what they do. Instead, what’s missing in a lot of
these designs is input from a data analyst – or someone who knows how to look
at the data, see what it is truly saying and then give recommendations on how
to best portray that “truth.”
So, here’s the big question. If you’ve ever hired someone to
produce an infographic for your business or organization, did you focus mostly
on investigating the potential producer’s design skills or did you look for
someone who also had a background in data analysis? Along that same vein, have
you ever seen an infographic that made you wince because you felt the method
used to portray the data was completely wrong – so wrong that it would give
viewers false impressions?
Image Credit: PhotoSpin/Kirsty Pargeter
Perhaps this is an evolution of our desire for fast knowledge?
ReplyDeleteI read it in a book; it must be true.
I read it on the internet; it Must be true.
I saw it in an infographic; it MUST be true.