90% of the information perceived and used by the human brain is visual. Communication through infographics is precisely gaining a growing popularity because it helps to better understand complex data in a simple way. According to a research made by 3M Corporation, a visual is processed 60,000 times faster by the brain than a text format. We can go ahead to say that quality infographics is one of the most effective method when transmitting messages both because of its learning power, its assimilation ease and its user friendly sharing format.

In March 2012 hashtag #inforgraphic was twittered over 50,000 thousand times, between April 2011 and April 2012 the word “infography” was searched over 300,000 thousand times in Google, not to mention the amount of blogs that publish daily contents and easily provide their users with quality content infographics. The rise of social media is without a shadow of doubt a fundamental element in promoting this form of communication. However, the saturation of information that we can experience in the analogical world is reflected similarly in the digital world, so the quality of infographics is what can really make the difference and adds real extra value both to the speaker and the information recipient.

Infographics offers numerous advantages, it is easy to use, plus it adds value, it can be easily shared in social networks and it’s durable. The success of a good infographics is the fact that it goes beyond information only, and arouses the consumer’s interest with something more original and creative. Remember that infographics is not an illustration of the information, but the way of transmitting the data through real images (diagrams, illustrations, schemes, etc.), thus simplifying not just your success, but your understanding.

Less is more, and the simpler it is the more attractive; similarly, companies are counting on the new way of transmitting messages to their target audience.

“The clarity and quality of the pending message guarantees the desired results”.

Currently in Spain infographics of divers forms are seen everywhere, however not all succeed in communicating the message. Companies must be very mindful of the concept of transmission of information. Quantity does not guarantee quality; therefore it’s important to rely on a team of professionals to spearhead visual communication.

Based in Spain, Ernesto Olivares, a visual journalist with over 20 years of experience in the visual communication field, offers technological and online marketing, comparative and worldwide digital publicity section, as well as infographic solutions, suitable for all businesses.

“80% of the infographics shared in social networks are created and promoted by Visual.ly”

We are the main partner of Visual.ly, the world largest infographics and visualization of data community, where the registered users can create, promote and share their own infographics online, about any topic.

Since 2011 Visual.ly has been transformed into a very strong tool, serving as an intermediary between designers and content creators. 80% of infographics shared in social networks are created and promoted by Visual.ly

Due to the simplicity and clarity of its designs and the work of a team of visual communicators, Ernesto Olivares Visual information has gathered that the United States is the country with greater influence in its visual contents, with a total of 90% of its production, followed by countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, India, China and Australia. Another stronger proof than the image is the access to a language that is universally understood.

With basis on the studies that confirm that 40% of people respond better to visual information rather than a textual one, we can conclude that quality infographics captivates and adds value. To many companies it’s a new and very attractive way to transmit messages, not only in traditional media, but also in social media and 2.0 platforms. These visual communication tools adapts perfectly to the current necessities of any company.

Each day the network users demand quality contents, they use it, share it and promote it. This is what lead to a growing technological advancement, the quantity of the existing and growing social networks, give us the assurance that visual communication can stand up to the challenges of this digital era.

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Now they’ve released a very useful tool for social media professionals. Recently, they’ve directed their attention to Google Analytics. And over 10 million people depend on this free tool every day to upgrade and update their websites.  It works great, nevertheless with Visual.ly experience in design and interpretation of data, a tool that allows to display Google Analytics results using infographics have been developed.

Visual.ly Google Analytics Reports sends analytic reports of the most important events on your website weekly and automatically, highlighting the most important data using infographics.

These Infographics show the history of the most important metrics, such as the number of  pages seen, social engagement, SEO, and a more visual bounce rate , highlighting the areas where the website administrator have to focus on to improve the website. Visual.ly Google Analytics Report has no intentions to replace the already available Google report, but it sure would help save a lot of time and (if the number increases) put a smile on the face of the web administrators and SEO.

It’s obvious that more companies are resorting to tools like these, so as to make their data and inside information understandable. If you would like to display an investigation work, explain a business procedure with pictures, or produce an interactive diagram, Try Ernesto Olivares Visual Information it’s your best shot.

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It satisfied us in all sphere from the corporate world to the field of science. This unique combination of art and science arouses our curiosity and drags us to an infinite amount of interest, indulging us to seek graphical representation of data.

The artistic representation of data changes as it passes through a number of phases, and over the time, its objective also changes with the up gradation of analysis and presentation. Historical examples will show that, many data visualization was incomplete which failed to serve the purpose. But as time passed, the perception on data visualization changed while making a multipurpose decision. It’s changeable nature frequently satisfied various optimizations with proper reasoning. For comprehension, it became a necessity to look deeply at the base of the work that highlights the creator’s main goal and ideas. Our ability is limited without a goal, and we will not be able to satisfy our customer related to different fields. So as a designer it is our challenge to be able to combine data, extract and transfer information in a single unit to the decision-makers in a sensible and useful form.

One of the main goals of data visualization is to give support in making decision through appropriately designed graphically represented information. Sophistically-designed data visualization systems can greatly assist users with proper reasoning and decision making. Usually, visually presented data is easier to understand.

A visually formatted information allows the user to swiftly perceive patterns or features that may not have been discovered previously.

With rapid evolution, the goal of data visualization has moved from simple charts and graphs to strong visually appealing dashboards that everybody wants. However, most of the time it fails to reach its ultimate goal due to its lack of communication which gets lost in unnecessary detail.

To achieve the goal of data visualization, an organization should properly and efficiently implement a dashboard so as to facilitate instant understanding. This would enhance the capability of working faster and smarter.

As an expert I would suggest that you take care of those visual representation techniques that may have left a negative impact in the past. The process of reaching the goal of data visualization is in progress and is improving each day. The key to a success is delivering relevant data related to sales, customer satisfaction, employee performance assessments, inventory levels, network performance, and accurate web sites presented at the right time.

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Sometimes, without prior experience, you may be required to programme in data visualization, and manage a wide range of applications necessary for handling mass information. Here, careful study of an authentic data visualization blog, or going through a crash course or a lecture in methodical approach to data visualization would be highly beneficial. Moreover you also need to be aware of the different ways of connecting and parsing information from several websites.

When you study data visualization blogs, you will notice that interaction in data visualization also takes place through vigorous, innovative and experimental programs with electronic  user-centered designs, that aims to investigate long-run problems such as the design of new services, physical interfaces and a possible sequence of future events.

Though data visualization generally illustrates relationships between quantitative values, it can also explain non- quantitative relationships such as, interactions between people on a social networking site. Here, people are represented as circles, and their relationships as lines connecting them as the links.

Visualizations featuring bonding between entities like people can be enhanced with the addition of quantitative information as well. For example, the number of frequency of two person’s interaction could be illustrated by the thickness of the line that made the connection.

Touch-screen is another extremely powerful medium of data interaction that needs data mining to enable visualization. This medium without a mouse allows the user to physically interact with the data through a cell phone in the realistic world.

You will also find other web concepts concerning interaction in data visualizations. Highlighting the details on demand is one of the common interactions methods in data visualizations. It helps the user remain focused on some specific part of visualization. The colorful, curved web feature lines with browser lines are given importance on mouse to see the characteristic adopted by different browsers. Rich popup windows, containing detailed information for interaction awaits the user’s single click that gives the user a great opportunity of self-exploration by posting in social media.

Interactive data visualizations are a thrilling way to drag and inform mass audiences. The greatest advantage of interaction in data visualization that you will find is the user’s freedom to change the content and the main part which are displayed in different structure, allowing him to change similar set of data.

Users now expect to completely interact with data, not just visualize it. Static reports simply don’t cut it anymore. This means that the visualization tool must understand the context of the data and be able to dynamically adapt the navigation, the look and feel and even the core functionality as the users manipulate and immerse themselves in the information.

Effective interaction in data visualization can help in removing unwanted parts of information on which you can do data mining.

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To create good data visualization, the most important thing is to know and understand the available tools and their proper application in the related fields. In this article I will discuss several tools which are appropriate for creating simple to complex graphs, infographics, maps, and pie charts. Presently, several free software libraries using Javascript are available that work quite well in browsers as well as in mobile devices. This frees us from the limitations of using a single programming base.

Arbor.js is an appropriate library that efficiently handles graph organization abstractions and refreshes handling, besides managing algorithm layouts that are force directed. Cubism.js and Rickshaw are others helping create horizon graphs that D3 based and involve time series that are interactive. These flexibly and efficiently create complicated and manipulative interactions by supporting SVG rendering.

Envision.js is popular because it creates fast, dynamic visualization time series that are interactive too. In Javascript library, JavaScript InfoVis Toolkit provides tools that create inter active data visualizations for the web. Leaflet JavaScript library is another lightweight framework for making tile-based interactive maps for desktop and mobile-friendly pages. Modest Maps is another option. Both of these having a powerful community can be ideal for your own site.

Polymaps is useful in making dynamic, interactive maps. The purpose of this mapping library is specifically aimed towards the audience of data visualization. Protovis is a library that creates artistically custom views of data by simple marking such as bars and dots.

CartoDB is a web service that converts CSV file of address strings to latitudes and longitudes and plots them on a map. Other uses are analyzing and building applications with data.  

Circos is a software package for visualizing data in a circular layout.

Degrafa is a strong ‘declarative graphics framework’ used for rich user interfaces, data visualizations and mapping.

NodeBox, a desktop OS X application that creates 2D graphics and visualisations is a swift and easy option to see result at a glance, except Python code.

Other highly favored tools for data visualization to optimize the goal are Tableau Public, Raphaël, R, Paper.js, Gephi, Processing, Katograph, Flare and many others. Only we have to choose it with a little bit of thought and intelligence.

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Our brain too interprets information fast and best when received through graphical processing. It makes complicated datasets easily understandable and comprehensible through the medium of visual communication. The strength and scope of “data visualization” is immense. To get full advantage of data visualization, first you should know about the various modern approaches on scope of data visualization in the related fields.

The information presentation is categorized primarily into two main parts – statistical graphics, and thematic cartography. The main objective under both categories is to represent quantitative and categorical data, even if the scope is different. In relation to the scope, different approaches are used such as:

Mindmaps – This is a diagramming tool which is used in the generation and visualization of structure and relationships, classification of ideas that is used for observing and organizing information, making decisions, solving problems and writing, anonymous collaboration, individual expression of creativity, outline and framework design, team building or synergy creating activity, condensing material into a concise and memorable format and overall enhancing work morale.

Visual Information – This is mostly used in news media, where information is presented on current events through tree map in print, broadcast, Internet etc to have access to a mass audience.

Data Visualization – It is almost impossible for a company in today’s world to make a strategic decision without referring to an accurate figure. Through data visualization this data can easily be accessed.

Displaying connections -It links the connection between factors like story, relevance, and usability, all in relationship to each other.

Displaying websites - It displays all search results in 3D arrangement. The company promises that the days of mining through pages and pages of tiny thumbnails in an effort to find the item you are looking for are over.

Articles & resources

It represents articles and resources in an artistic way, where journalism and art nicely blend with each other. The scope of data visualization is very wide, ranging from simple geographical locations like land mass, rivers, oceans, terrains to biological characteristics of species, diseases, ecosystems, science and mathematics,  non-numerical information like files and lines of code in software systems, networks of relations on the internet, bibliographic databases etc. Other scopes are visualization of 3-D+ phenomena in the field of medicine, biology  and meteorology . As an individual, it is our concern to be aware of recorded data about yourself and your surroundings and to represent this with sophisticated visualization skills in a great way to take full advantage from data visualization.

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The 90% of the transmitted information in the human brain is visual. While others animals, such as the dog is characterized by the sense of smell, or hearing sense in the case of bat; the human is undoubtedly a Visual Being. Research at 3M Corporation concluded that we process visuals 60,000 times faster than text. Images are the most easily things to remember by our brains and are essential for our learning. Because of the human nature, what we see has a deep effect in what we do, what we feel and what we are.

During the past decades, several investigations have established models of Learning Styles. One of the most famous was the Vak Model of Neil Fleming, which said that the learning styles of human being could be classified into an order of preference in visual, auditory and tactile or kinaesthetic. We can say that in our society we speak with images. Thus most people today prefer obtain information through the online system, primarily visual, and the current generation has grown and learned in such a way that it is difficult for them cope with a different communication from using images. It is estimated that 40% of people prefer visual learning over auditory or kinaesthetic.

Advantages of Infographics The Infography combines the advantages associated with visual learning to make them serve the purpose of your message. Those publishers who know the potential of using infographics and feature them grow traffic 12% faster than publishers that don’t feature infographics.

• Clarifies concepts
• Reinforces understanding
• Facilitates the assimilation of new knowledge
• Identifies erroneous concepts quickly

Benefits are known and masterfully used by professionals in the field of Infographics. So, even if you just want to submit the project with a purely analytical purpose or even not going after to obtain any specific response from the reader, the mode of data presentation in an attractive and smart way remains being especially important.

We should no doubt that man is a mainly visual being that bases his learning and perception of the world in the visual experience. Therefore, taking into account that people like to consume more visual information in all the fields of life, the value of using visual information in our communication is really significant and the most effective way to do it, no doubt, is by using Infographics.

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I’ve been working independently for six years. But in the last year we formed a team of visual communication professionals, along with researchers and developers. We are able to provide creative solutions for any information or data visualization needs, including illustration & 3D modeling, strategic content, web design & interactive development.

- Tell us a bit about yourself: how did you get into design, and how long have you been doing it?

I always had a huge interest in how things work in detail. In particular, I was inspired by the 1990s coverage of the Gulf War by visual journalists who made the conflict a milestone in the history of Journalistic Infography. I realized that my goal was to make infographics to understand the world from its roots.

I got my Bachelors in Publicity but I have been always dedicated to designing in different newspapers, till about 15 years ago when I jumped into Journalistic Infography design. During that time I have been working as infographics editor for newspapers in Spain, U.S. and Latin America. In the last 6 years I established myself as an independent designer, doing research and designing infographics for all types of media and businesses.

- In seven words or less describe your style.

Simple and Clear Visual information

- If you could take a seminar With One designer or artist, living or dead, who would that be? Why?

Actually two: Jeff Goertzen, for its visual style faithfully attached to information and Alberto Cairo for his great data visualization and data management abilities.

- Which is your favourite colour? Why?

Orange, I always loved it and I’ve never really known why, I just like it.

- What is the biggest mistake you’ve made in your work and what did you learn from it?

The largest mistake was 25 years ago in front of an Apple Macintosh SE running as a server. I could barely move the mouse, but was in the process of learning and, accidentally, I erased all of the information on the hard drive. I deleted all the contents of the newspaper and it was late. I learned that too much curiosity can cause problems.

- And your greatest achievement? Tell us about the project you are most proud of in your career till now.

My current study: ErnestoOlivares.com is one of the most important and ambitious projects I have ever started. Using the knowledge gained from practicing Journalistic Infography and applying it to commercial and outreach information, has been a process of study and significant growth.

- Who should we feature next in this space?

The National Geographic guys, they are fabulous.

About Ernesto Olivares andVisual.ly:

Since 2011 Visual.ly is the largest community where you share, promote and create infographics, in fact, 80% of viral infographics on the network come from their creators. Ernesto Olivares, Visual Journalist with over 15 years of experience is a leading visual communicators of Visual.ly, with infographics views more than 135,000 times and developing viral marketing projects and strategic content for major brands and technology companies in the U.S. and the world.

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Visual solutions designed to Unmetric were very important to the successful completion of this campaign, as they helped to transmit the message along with the rationale provided by the data: achieving a high viral level in Unmetric Social Networks. That is why to use Infography is important for companies as a tool in their communication and marketing campaigns.

Infography to visualize behavioral data of U.S. fast food restaurants in social networks.

CHALLENGE: Unmetric, an application focused on the measuring and analysis of big brands behaviour in the Social Network, in June 2012produced its report QSR (Quick Service Restaurants) in Social Media in order to measure the behaviour in Social Networks of the major fast food brands in U.S. It needed to introduce its results in an effective and faithful manner.

SOLUTIONS: To design an Infography that easily transmits the measurement results, with the required depth, and at the same time, being suitable as a separate part for transmission via social networks and conventional media. The message has to guide brands and agencies so can establish benchmarks in their social media campaigns, giving them confidence.
Unmetric is a successful company fully dedicated to a very specific market, the analysis of trends in social networking, giving references and solutions to the companies.

ACTIONS
Documentation: after receiving the data and information the process of research and documentation starts to know the client, it s business and the scope of his/her project. Then we analyse the data, conclusions and results to see the different visualization options able to be established.

Sketch and Ideas: We explore several ways to display Infography, till find the best way which allows us to show the conclusively data into an organized way and with a script from the beginning to the end.

Design: Taking care of details such as font selection, color palette, graphic line and others, the graphic was presented, highlighting the reason of  the measurement: fast food.

Feedback: Once the Infogrphy design finished, we started with Unmetric rounds of comments and feedbacks to enhance the information distribution, content and graphic details till reach an Infography that shows the analysis data with depth and organization deeded from the customer.

Results: “Is one of the most shared Infographies in our social networks and published in several sector blogs and important communication media such as Mashable”. The result was a completely success because we reach to some bands that contacted us just to ask why they were not included in that Infography”, on that way Peter Claridge, Global Marketing Manager Unmetric, summed the success of this project.

Finally it’s the result:

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We live in a strange time between all time in our history. Such are the information sources that to say “information is power” is almost out of place. As other many things, information can be a double-edged sword: everything can be inside or outside at the same time. Because today everyone can write big amounts of information. So, what is the reliability of the information we receive?, how we can know if the information we read is based on verified information sources?, Can we take decisions according to them?

The huge influx of information that goes out on the network can overwhelms to anyone expectative who find in the “Google Guru” the answer to any question. This Guru that never sleeps or rests seems to offer every solution and advantage. But we would be able to discern the quality of information from that which is not?

“QUALITY: The information is needed for the decision-making and problem solving.”

If that we receive is not based on accurate and verified data sources, any decision based on it will be framed in error and will inevitably lead us to failure. Quality makes the difference and all of us know how to recognize it. But is not only about content but also by the form.

The information today is mainly visual because people hardly have time to read. The more clear and concise visual design is more easily will be assimilated by users, who demand immediacy and simplicity. This requires an investment in qualified professionals capable of synthesizing the data into attractive visual designs, this is what is known as Infography.

All Infography will be attained to a framework of ethical principles in which prevails that information which is reliable, factual and correlated with honesty, accuracy and transparency. The Infography is, undoubtedly, the natural evolution of journalism, which offers the true quality of information tailored to our days.

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