Entire online communities have been established in order to share the scope and beauty of infographics and other forms of data visualization. These fun, illustrative representations, seen in magazines, newspapers, websites and advertisements have also found their way into the world of evaluation reporting. Oftentimes seen as a one-page document with a mix of appealing colors, pictures, and short text blurbs, infographics have become increasingly popular as an effective tool for communicating complex evaluation findings. They are especially appealing to busy stakeholders who do not have the time to read and digest a 20 page report or even a two page executive summary.
While infographics present data in a simple and easy to process format, developing an infographic requires a wide variety of skills that can make creating one a not- so-simple task. As evaluators, many of us have data analysis skills and are able to determine appropriate messaging for key findings; these are skills that we are using already to inform our reporting process. However, graphic design is its own special field and may draw on expertise and software that are not commonly used in the field of evaluation. If this skill is not available, one could draw upon other resources and collaborate to fill this role—i. e. graphic designers, web designers, etc.
Some of the key steps and skills required to construct a successful infographic include:
Analyzing data: Building the infographic starts with analyzing and summarizing quantitative and qualitative data; this could be information collected as part of the evaluation as well as any supporting data (e.g. census). The same key findings you use in a report will be the basis for the information conveyed in the infographic.
Choosing key points: This step includes determining which findings are most important to share with the audience. These can be themes that emerged or specific data points taking the form of text, charts, timelines, maps, or other visual data displays.
Messaging: The messaging of your key findings depends on understanding who will see the data and what it will be used for. The key findings included may be different based on the intended audience; for example, stakeholders may have more interest in learning about how a program’s internal process is working, while the general public may be more concerned about how a program impacts the community.
Graphic design: Now you can bring the message to life through graphics! Graphic design incorporates what we know about best uses of color, shading, charts, and text to make a visual that effectively communicates the message, but is also appealing.
During the spring of 2013, the Improve Group worked with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to conduct a large-scale study of long-term care services in Minnesota. The study included an extensive data collection process which included gathering input from people with disabilities, older adults, caregivers, providers, and County and Tribal governments through focus groups, interviews, and online surveys. The study revealed gaps and barriers in the existing system for consumers and caregivers, as well as opportunities for future collaboration and service development across the state.
The primary audiences for the report included legislators and key decision makers at DHS, all of which could potentially impact the development of partnerships and modifications to current service models. It was important to share findings in a way that was engaging and concise. The Improve Group worked with a design colleague to condense the findings of the 83 page report into an infographic (right). Through multiple working sessions, we identified the key findings to highlight from the study, including important service gaps and the primary recommendations for addressing them. Here is where you can access the final report.
Interested in learning more? There are a few (often free) online tools and resources available to make it easier for evaluators to develop skills in creating infographics. If you are looking for inspiration on how to design your own infographic, we have had a lot of success demonstrating some ideas on the Improve Group's Data Viz Board on Pinterest
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