Sarah Slobin, infographics designer for the New York Times, Fortune Magazine, and now the Wall Street Journal, has collected a list of 7 (and a half) steps to developing successful infographics. Many of her points apply outside infographics and into just visualization in general, such as this gem on dealing with source data:
Every time I start a graphic, I’m optimistic that my material will show up perfectly packaged with a lovely bow and some chocolate covered pretzels in a cellophane bag. Instead, it usually arrives like the black sheep cousin at a family wedding—late, disheveled and smelling like something stuck to the bottom of a cat’s feet.
Before you can visualize anything, you’ve got to make sure your material is clean, clean, clean and super-organized.
I can attest to that. Every researcher I deal with seems to think their own proprietary format is the best evar so I spend the first hours of any project writing new file readers.
via The 7 ½ Steps to Successful Infographics – Articles – MIX Online.
