Cool Infographics: Effective Communication with Data Visualization and Design

by Randy Krum

Make information memorable with creative visual design techniques

Research shows that visual information is more quickly and easily understood, and much more likely to be remembered. This innovative book presents the design process and the best software tools for creating infographics that communicate. Including a special section on how to construct the increasingly popular infographic resume, the book offers graphic designers, marketers, and business professionals vital information on the most effective ways to present data.

Explains why infographics and data visualizations work Shares the tools and techniques for creating great infographics Covers online infographics used for marketing, including social media and search engine optimization (SEO) Shows how to market your skills with a visual, infographic resume Explores the many internal business uses of infographics, including board meeting presentations, annual reports, consumer research statistics, marketing strategies, business plans, and visual explanations of products and services to your customers With Cool Infographics, you'll learn to create infographics to successfully reach your target audience and tell clear stories with your data.

Genres: Design, Nonfiction, Business, Reference, Technology

347 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Designer of data visualizations and infographics for both internal and external uses by clients. Working with companies to visualize marketing strategies, consumer experiences, qualitative and quantitative research, product differentiation, website statistics, budgets, timelines and internal processes.

Author of Cool Infographics: Effective Communication with Data Visualization and Design. Written for anyone that wants to learn how to use infographics and data visualizations more effectively. Whether you design your own or work with a designer, the tactics and tips included will help you create better infographics and effectively publish them online.

Instructor of data visualization, infographics and dashboard design at Southern Methodist University (SMU), and Organizer of the DFW Data Visualization Meetup group.

Speaker to conferences and corporate meetings on topics about effective infographics, visual thinking, data visualization methods, infographic design, infographics for SEO, internal visual communication and infographic release strategies.

Reviews

[Kim]

I am developing a unit for 6th grade students where one of the options they will have is to create an infographic representation of their research. I purchased this book after seeing it listed in one of the blogs I follow. This book provided to be much more useful than I could have imagined. In addition to the suggestions and guidelines for creating infographics there are numerous examples and annotated listings of tools to use in creating your own infographics. Randy Krum even discusses Copyright and CreativeCommons laws protecting your images and the images of others (something every teacher needs to be aware of).

I started out reading this to learn how to use it with students and have ended up creating my own infographic resume. Good stuff!

[David]

I was generally happy with this book as it applied to infographics. The image quality is excellent and the example choices are great. The section on available tools is also very helpful. I do feel that most of the book applied to the infographic-specific area with less emphasis on data visualization in other situations, but because they title suggests that may be the case, this is not a big surprise.

The only criticism I have of this book is pertains to the layout. Very frequently the text will reference an image which is not visible on a facing page. This is somewhat interesting with respect to the inclusion of "Beautiful Evidence" on the recommended further reading list; a book in which the author specifically condemns this practice.

[Sabina]

the best book on infographics I read so far, especially section about resume was useful.

[Sasha]

Lots of great examples. Nice list of suggested books at the end.

[Christian West]

Interesting book on creating infographics for various purposes. The chapter on infographic resumes was very comprehensive, but I was disappointed in the chapter on internal confidential infographics and the designing infographics. The internal confidential chapter was light-on with infographics because the data in them is confidential. I expected more graphics to be shown with made up data to show the types of one-page infographics that are used in company documents. The chapter on design mentioned a couple of hints, but was also rather scant on detail.
Overall a decent read.

[Antonio Herrera]

Upstanding

It presents a great compendium of information about infographics. It doesn't give a step-by-step guide of how to create one, but presents recommendations and tips useful to guide you in the correct direction to start as well as a broad view of the world surrounding, not only the creation, but the social implications of infographics.

[Jennifer]

I think many of the examples and links need updating.

[Emerson John Tiu Ng]

Nice book for tips about data visualization

[Alex Ott]

between 3 & 4. Very good examples, and some advices are applicable for me as well, but mostly for graphic designers.

[Nadiia]

great source of inspiration and explanations for non-designers

[Brent Jones]

Author, Randy Krum, is a designer of data visualization and graphics. His book explains how stories are told using visual representations that people can quickly grasp. The book covers design rules, story structure, design process, using graphic’s for a resume, and how to include SEO value.

Krum says: “the best infographics should tell the story of a piece of data in an entertaining and concise way. A piece of effective data visualization appears simple but should display the right combination of images and words to convey complex data in an impactful way. He adds at the end of the book under a Final Thoughts section that “It doesn’t matter what business your company is in, you can benefit from visualizing your information.

The contents include these chapters:

1. The Science of Infographics

2. Online Infographics

3. Infographics and SEO

4. Intographic Resumes

5. Internal Confidential Infographics

6. Designing Infographics

7. Design Resources

For more about this book see https://connectedeventsmatter.com/blo...

[Biblio Curious]

The coolest feature is Infographic Resumes!!! What an age we live in!

Overall, it's a great book for folks who are tech savvy or want to be. It has tonnes of resources for newbies and is accessible for us old pen and paper folks.

[Bialecka Bogna]

Excellent book, describing important aspects of designing infographics. Lots of usefull examples. Strongly reccommend.

[Peter]

Very basic and nothing special.