Infographic blocks encodes values as modular rectangles whose size and order rank importance. Isotype (Neurath, 1920s–30s) plus postwar magazine grids.
In reports, ads and assignments it fits dashboards, posters, one-pagers, exhibit boards. Skip it when the tiles hide that the numbers are not comparable.
Principles
- Encoding — Infographic blocks encodes modular rectangles whose size and order rank importance.
- History — Isotype (Neurath, 1920s–30s) plus postwar magazine grids
- Fit — dashboards, posters, one-pagers, exhibit boards
- Shared baseline — The eye compares length and position more accurately than area.
- Audience — PowerPoint, Excel or Google Sheets and Meta, Google and retail print share the same geometry.
Misconceptions
- Pretty equals true — Decoration rarely persuades; it slows reading.
- 3-D helps — Perspective distortion wrecks comparison. Keep it flat.
- More series is richer — Do not stack stories. One Infographic blocks, one claim.
- Default palette is fine — Rainbow defaults fail color-blind viewers and grey print. Change Excel or Google Sheets defaults.
Why it matters
- Work — Work: dashboards, posters, one-pagers, exhibit boards. Readable in four minutes in PowerPoint.
- Ads — Ads: one number and one shape speak first in Meta, Google and retail print.
- School — School: for lab reports and poster boards, pick the form that answers the rubric.
- Craft — Craft: honour modular rectangles whose size and order rank importance and decoration falls away.
Infographic blocks: honour modular rectangles whose size and order rank importance, and switch when the tiles hide that the numbers are not comparable.