Introduction

It's no secret that visuals tend to have an advantage over text updates when it comes to engaging the audience. 90% of the information transmitted by infographics to the brain is visual and it is easy to understand why infographics are 30 times more likely to be read than text articles.

Information, news and graphic imagery are redefining the DNA of our news publications with the ever changing pace of the digital age. And feeding that insatiable appetite for news on demand to our audience is daunting. Newspapers have evolved to over the last 50 years to include more photographs, bigger and bolder headlines, more colour pages and more graphics.

This workshop looks at how to create well-crafted infographics that convert text heavy information into digestive visual masterpieces and how the informational graphics industry has changed over the decades - from the tools to the styles we use to illustrate our graphics. Be it print or interactive, participants will experience it all and leave this workshop recharged and inspired to take on the challenges that lie ahead in the industry.

Workshop Outline

• Introduction to Infographics and the role it plays in supoorting a story or simplifying data and analysis
• A review of changing styles in print graphics with examples from the USA, UK and Asia. Participants will be exposed to recent award winning infographics from press and book publishing industries.
• Web graphics with an exploration of the differences between print and digital executions as well as the different types of informational graphics.
• Tools and software used in publishing firms today. 
• Example of how a graphics department in a major newspaper is structured and how the workflow is organized.
• Steps in the conception and creation of an infographics artwork. 
• Understanding the story, drilling down to key elements.
• Understanding productiona and timing restraints.
• Preparing a story board and selecting a style suitable for the story.
• Techniques to add drama to the communication.
• Software demonstration to help create eye-catching imagery or short cut execution time.
• Practical hands on work