Infographics: The legacy of Da Vinci
Author
Roland Guijs
Date
November 2, 2022
Reading time
3 minutes
Themes
Technically speaking, an infographic is the graphic representation of information.
Going through a text is something that many people naturally dislike, but a good image immediately captures interest. The art is to connect the visual aspect to the content side. In this way, both hemispheres of the brain are engaged, and the information is actively processed.
A dive into history
The oldest examples of infographics are over 40,000 years old, where Homo sapiens made cave paintings of the hunt. A few centuries later, in 1490, we find perhaps the most famous infographic in the world: The Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci. In this, he visualizes the proportions of the human body, as had already been described in the years before Christ by the Roman architect Vitruvius in the book De architectura (Utrecht University). While no one De architectura of Vitruvius, let alone its content, knows, the Vitruvian Man by Da Vinci is world-famous. The image can even be found on every Italian euro. This also demonstrates the immense impact of a good infographic. To convince the general public of Vitruvius' vision of the human body, an image was necessary. And today, this is no different; a good infographic presents complex information in a clear and visual way.
5 characteristics of a good infographic
Clear target audience. The target audience is the one for whom the infographic is ultimately intended. For an internal, technically detailed message, the content and tone-of-voice will be different than, for example, a press release.
Less is more. Focus on what is truly relevant. In an infographic, there is only limited space for explanation; it is therefore essential that the message gets to the point immediately.
Clear illustration. In an infographic, the focus is on the graphic. This should make it clear at a glance what it is about and align with the corporate style.
Get to the point. Package the message concisely. By clarifying complex aspects with icons, the reader is not distracted by unnecessary details.
Shareable. Infographics offer many possibilities for a large online reach. By presenting stimulating insights, people are more likely to share the image.
When is an infographic successful?
When discussing communication expressions, these are often divided into three categories: informing, inspiring, and activating. As the name suggests, an infographic is extremely suitable for informing people. An infographic is considered successful when the information is conveyed and understood by the reader. However, focusing solely on information transfer would do a disservice to the infographic. A often overlooked aspect is inspiring. By presenting the information concisely and visually, it comes to life. People will think much more and be more inclined to take action after seeing a clear infographic. After all, virtually everyone knows Da Vinci, while Vitruvius has faded into the oblivion of history.
