Above is an image launched into space in 1972 aboard the Pioneer 10. A message in a bottle for extraterrestrials, and an example of infographics: the art of overcoming linguistic barriers and providing complex information in synthetic form. It works: the New York Times has recently set up a Visualization Lab in collaboration with IBM (look how it represents the relationship between immigration and work and browse the menu for details). This and other interesting material comes from a recent article in Advertising Age.
Infographics are also used in videos, including commercials: here are ads for Honda and Alfa Romeo.
According to the excellent Anglo-Chinese magazine uigarden, the task of infographics is to reveal what is hidden, simplify what is complex, illuminate what is dark… hrm. Luckily, uigarden also provides more practical advice on things like the process of design.
Lastly, have a look at the splendid work of Nigel Holmes, the very smart blog of 28-year-old Jess Bachman and the designs of Funnel. Take a few minutes to browse a gallery of good and bad examples.
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