At this point, saying it’s hot outside is probably an understatement— and that’s the case across the country. Earlier this week, for instance, I traveled to Seattle, Washington from Edinburg, Texas for vacation. We came here hoping to escape the Rio Grande Valley heat and enjoy some West Coast weather, but instead were welcomed by the hottest temperatures the region has ever seen. Tomorrow, it’s expected to reach 111 degrees Fahrenheit here in Seattle, which means it’ll break the record for the highest temperature ever recorded by the National Weather Service. So much for our cool weather escape.
While it’s happening in some areas more than others, extreme heat events around the nation are becoming more common, severe and longer-lasting as our climate continues to change. While we do expect warm summer weather each year— or for those of us who live in South Texas, a lot warmer— it is important to know when the heat can be dangerous. According to a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an extreme heat event is a series of unusually hot days, while extreme heat conditions is weather that is a lot hotter than normal for a certain time or place. It’s not just an annoyance or a vacation-killer, though. Every year, extreme heat kills hundreds of people across the country and is the reason for even more heat-related illnesses.
After watching several local news outlets about not ignoring the warning signs and taking this rare heat wave seriously, I wanted to look more into how we can stay safe when we’re threatened with extreme heat, and what can happen to those who are affected.
Creating my infographic
I hoped to apply what I’ve learned about visual communication on my infographic. I made my background a yellow-red gradient to parallel that of the sun and heat. I used colors similar in theme for the text color, while still ensuring the copy was easy to read. I also chose large and bolded fonts to differentiate the various facts and tips throughout the infographic so the audience would know what was important and made it easy for them to follow along. Because the audience for this is the everyday person, I made sure to include mostly visual elements to aid the text and keep them engaged throughout the graphic.
As noted in an article called “12 Infographic Tips That You Wish You Knew Years Ago,” titles should be short and to the point, while also being interesting enough to get the viewer’s attention. I used “Beat the Heat” because it is a common phrase in South Texas, as well as one for anyone hoping to survive this summer heat will be on the lookout for.
Using infographics to enhance visual storytelling
“Maybe stories are just data with a soul.”
– Research Professor Brené Brown
I first heard that quote earlier this week in a video called Visual Storytelling for Science and Conservation Impact featuring National Geographic Documentary Producer Carolyn Barnwell. In her presentation, she talked about how much more impactful it is to tell a story, rather than explain a circumstance or event. In doing so, an observer can remember the big picture and not get hung up on the insignificant details.
While this is important in all kinds of visual storytelling, it’s especially important in geographic or science visualization because it helps experts overcome any communication barriers through clear visuals that help communicate the message.
Every detail is important to the graphic that helps spread that message, which includes the order and placement of each element within that visual design. You must first establish the overall look and feel of what you hope to relay to your audience and then identify the visual elements you’d like to communicate. But the audience must always be kept in mind.
Visual storytelling works when the content that is shared is genuine and authentic. An effective infographic can do the same when not only informing its audience of its data, but also connecting to their emotions. Artists and creators can further enhance their designs by applying the Gestalt principles when designing an infographic, which describes the way our mind interprets visual elements.
References:
Benjamin Wedro, M. D. (2019, October 18). Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke: Symptoms, Signs, Treatment. MedicineNet. https://www.medicinenet.com/heat_exhaustion/article.htm.
Bonner, C. (2019, March 23). Using Gestalt Principles for Natural Interactions. thoughtbot. https://thoughtbot.com/blog/gestalt-principles.
CDC, (2020, September 25). Extreme Heat. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/.
CDC, E. P. A. (2016, October). CLIMATE CHANGE and EXTREME HEAT: What You Can Do to Prepare. epa.gov. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-10/documents/extreme-heat-guidebook.pdf.
Dennison, B. (2017, March 28). Practical visual literacy for science communication: Blog. Integration and Application Network. https://ian.umces.edu/blog/practical-visual-literacy-for-science-communication/.
Gov, R. (2021, May 26). Extreme Heat. Extreme Heat | Ready.gov. https://www.ready.gov/heat.
Lien, J. (2020, December 8). Worth 1,000 Words: The 4 Principles of Visual Storytelling. amplifi. https://amplifinp.com/blog/4-principles-visual-storytelling/.
NORMAN, D. O. N. A. L. D. A. (2006, January 1). DESIGNERS AND USERS: TWO PERSPECTIVES ON EMOTION AND DESIGN1. http://projectsfinal.interactionivrea.org/. http://projectsfinal.interactionivrea.org/2004-2005/SYMPOSIUM%202005/communication%20material/DESIGNERS%20AND%20USERS_Norman.pdf.
Patel, N. (2021, April 29). Infographic: What is it, Examples, 12 Tips & Templates For 2021. Neil Patel. https://neilpatel.com/blog/12-infographic-tips/.
Visual Storytelling for Science and Conservation Impact. (2018). Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/260442084.
Visualization, S. (2018, August 20). Science Visualization. http://sciencevisualization.com/.