Army Publications Use of Information Graphics

Agenda

Whatpublicationswereanalyzed?

WhowritesArmypublications?

WhatprinciplesapplytotheArmysuseof
informationgraphics?

HowcantheArmyimproveitsuseof
informationgraphicsinitspublications?
FromUSArmyCorpsofEngineersGWOTReconstructionReport
What publications made up the analysis?
Criteria

ThepublicationwaspublishedinIraqor
Afghanistan

Thepublicationwasdistributedtoaudiences
weekly.

Containedinformationgraphicsordatathat
couldberenderedasaninformationgraphic.

TheDesertMesh(primary)
GWOTReconstructionReport(secondary)
TheAnacondaTimes(tertiary)
TheIraqReconstructionReport(quaternary)*
*Noquinary,senary,septenary,octonary,nonary,denarypublicationswereidentified.
Who writes, edits, publishes, and reads these publications?

PublicAffairsTeamsof3to5Soldiersgenerate
allcontent.

Publicationscoverevents,visitorsandkey
internalmessagesfortheirrespectiveinstallations.

Thepublicationsarecreated,edited,and
distributedlocally(inIraqorAfghanistan)using
typicalofficesoftwareprograms.

Writersandeditorshavelittlegraphicsexpertise
otherthanExcelorPowerPoint

Audiencesaresoldiersandciviliansresidingon
thesmallinstallation

Articlesandfeaturesoftenareusedtoinformand
educatetheaudiences.
What information graphics principles are most important for
Army Publications?

#1:Includeaprcis
#2:Usetablestoprovideaccesstonumbers.
#3:Tellthetruth
#4:Tellthewholetruth
#5:BeginatZero
#6:Interpret,contextualize&explainimplications
#7:Presentalltheinformation(Donthideit)
#8:Ifitsonline,makeithorizontal--andfit
#9:Maximizedataink
#10:Comparisondefinesaninformationgraphic
#11:Removechartjunk
#12:Timeprovidescontext
#13:MaketheZeroAssumption-youraudience
knowsnothingaboutthesubject
#14:Designmustexemplifyexcellence
#15:Effectiveinformationgraphicscatalyze,
stimulateandacceleratelearning
#16:Distinguishbetweenprocess&information
graphics.
#17:Makeandinspireconnections.
#18:Effectiveinformationgraphicsarerelevant&
provideamplificatorycontent.
#19:Informationgraphicsareintegratedwithtext.
#20:Utilizeconsistentgraphiclanguage.
#1:Includeaprcis
#3:Tellthetruth
#6:Interpret,contextualizeandexplainimplications
#15:Effectiveinformationgraphicscatalyze,stimulate
andacceleratelearning
#18:Effectiveinformationgraphicsarerelevantand
provideamplificatorycontent.
How do current example graphics adhere to the most
pertinent principles?

Includeaprcis

Tellthetruth

Interpret,contextualizeandexplainimplications

Effectiveinformationgraphicscatalyze,stimulateand
acceleratelearning

Effectiveinformationgraphicsarerelevantandprovide
amplificatorycontent.
X
X
X
X
How do current example graphics adhere to the most
pertinent principles?

Includeaprcis

Tellthetruth

Interpret,contextualizeandexplainimplications

Effectiveinformationgraphicscatalyze,stimulateand
acceleratelearning

Effectiveinformationgraphicsarerelevantandprovide
amplificatorycontent.
X
X
X
How do current example graphics adhere to the most
pertinent principles?

Includeaprcis

Tellthetruth

Interpret,contextualizeandexplainimplications

Effectiveinformationgraphicscatalyze,stimulateand
acceleratelearning

Effectiveinformationgraphicsarerelevantandprovide
amplificatorycontent.
X
X
X
What I learned from these publications and their graphics

Informationgraphicsareseldomused.

Staffsarenottrainedorencouragedtouseinformation
graphics

Graphicsareusedasanafterthoughtnotanintegrated
partofthestory

Graphicscouldeasilybeusedinsafety,riskmanagement,
andcommandinformationportionsofthepublications.

TheArmyhasplentyofresearchsourcestohelpbuild
graphicsofmanytypes.
Improvements can be made to Army Publication information
Graphics
33
Unclassified
Unclassified
NO!
Dontbeafraidtoincludeaprcis.Tellthereaderwhat
youwantthemtotakeaway.

Alwaystellthetruthinyourgraphics.

Providesomecontext(time,geography)toyourgraphics.

Thinkofyourgraphicasaclassroomtooluseittoteach
youraudience.

Dontmakeyourgraphicanafterthought.Itshould
complimentandamplifyyourcontentnotdistractfromit.

Emulategraphicsyoulikefromotherpublications.Adjust
themandtheirconceptstofityourneeds

Atallcostsavoidgraphicslikethis!