Turning Data Into Action
A Webinar Series for SOHPs
Presenting by the ASTDD Data Committee
7-Part Series
Date
Topic
Presenter
May 18
Turning data into action
Kathy Phipps, ASTDD
June 1
Developing and using state oral health data reports
Hawaii & Vermont
June 15
Using the CDC Open Data Platform to visualize oral
health data
Valerie Robison, CDC
June 29
Data to Action: Making Better Infographics
Carole Stampfel, AMCHP
July 13
CANCELLED - RESCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 3
July 27
Web-based oral health data systems – state examples
Colorado, Minnesota,
Wisconsin
August 3
Oral health infographics – state examples
Arizona & New Hampshire
Using coalitions and partners to spread the message
Children’s Health Alliance of
Wisconsin, Washington Dental
Service Foundation
August 10
All webinars are Thursday from 3:00-4:00 Eastern Time
General Reminders
 This webinar will be recorded & archived (www.astdd.org)
 Please hold questions until the end
 If you have questions, please make a note of them
 If you want to ask a question at the end, click on the Set Status icon


The little man with his arm raised on either the upper left or the top of your
screen. Click on “raise hand”
We will then call on you to ask your question
 Please respond to the polling questions
Acknowledgements
This presentation was supported by Cooperative
Agreement NU58DP004919-05-00 from CDC, Division of
Oral Health. Its contents are solely the responsibility of
the authors and do not necessarily represent the official
views of CDC.
Data to Action: Making Better
Infographics
ASTDD Webinar
June 29, 2017
Caroline Stampfel, MPH
Direct of Programs, AMCHP
Who is AMCHP?
AMCHP is a national resource, partner and
advocate for state public health leaders and
others working to improve the health of women,
children, youth and families, including those with
special health care needs.
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What Will I Talk About Today?
• Why people use infographics
• Some of the ways infographics can go wrong
• Some of the ways we are trying to make better
infographics
• Iterations of infographics we’ve made
• Lessons learned
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What is an Infographic?
• Graphic visual representation of information, data or
other collections of knowledge1
• A chart, diagram, or illustration that uses graphic
elements to present information in a visually striking
way2
• Data visualizations that present complex information
quickly and clearly. Think of maps, signs, and charts
used by statisticians or computer scientists:
Wherever you have deep data presented in visual
shorthand, you’ve got an infographic.3
1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infographic
2https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infographic
3https://visual.ly/m/what-is-an-infographic/
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Why Infographics?
• Pictures rather than words
• Shareable
• Bring together a lot of information
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Where we
came from –
AMCHP Pulse
Data and
Trends
Why BETTER Infographics?
Some infographics miss the mark, but why?
• Too much information
• Visualizations that not appropriate for the data
• Clashing colors, fonts, hard to read
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LOVED IT (We will try to…)
Put what’s newsworthy at the top
Rank our data (what’s most important)
Include white space
Dress up our charts
Use meaningful visuals
Keep visuals numerically accurate
Keep charts simple
Tell a story
Use complimentary color schemes (find
good palettes)
Use images that we have purchased
(avoid copyright infringement)
Include citations for data and images in
some way
Use PDF as the final output
Come up with a catchy title
LOVED IT (We will try to…)
HATED IT (We will avoid…)
Put what’s newsworthy at the top
Pie charts
Rank our data (what’s most important)
Imagery in charts (not always appropriate)
Include white space
Too much information in one infographic
Dress up our charts
Too small (print and visuals)
Use meaningful visuals
Too many fonts
Keep visuals numerically accurate
Unlabeled / incorrectly labeled axis
Keep charts simple
Background images that are too busy
Tell a story
Images that might be divisive
Use complimentary color schemes (find
good palettes)
Using people as “vessels” to show percent
because they are not accurate
Use images that we have purchased
(avoid copyright infringement)
Include citations for data and images in
some way
Use PDF as the final output
Come up with a catchy title
We will avoid…
How Do We Make Them Better?
Iteration #1
Iteration #2
Iteration #3
Iteration #4
The Final
Version
What if you
don’t use
numbers at all?
Experimenting
with Social
Math
Where we
are now:
AMCHP Pulse
Data and
Trends
We Still Struggle With…
• Maps
• Too much information in one infographic
• Design aesthetics
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We Feel Good About…
• Accurate data visualizations
• Pushing the epi/data boundaries
• Appropriate citations
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Our Favorite Resources
For making infographics:
• Piktochart
• https://piktochart.com/
• Visme
• https://www.visme.co/
• Flat Icon
• http://www.flaticon.com/
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Our Favorite Resources
For making infographics better:
Making charts look cool: http://piktochart.com/how-to-make-charts-ininfographics-look-good/
Ten tips for designing better infographics: http://www.dotdash.ie/10-tips-fordesigning-better-infographics
12 infographic tips: https://blog.kissmetrics.com/12-infographic-tips/
Do’s and Don’ts of infographic design:
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2011/10/14/the-dos-and-donts-ofinfographic-design/
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Is there a “How-To Guide”?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Decide what’s on your DO / DON’T list
Do you have access to a graphic designer?
Reach out to your PIO
If you have to do it yourself, get familiar with
the programs
Who is your audience?
How many products do you need?
Consider how you will resolve tension
between accuracy and style
Try it out!
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Lessons Learned
• Collaboration is essential
• Agreement on design principles is a good
starting point
• Nobody gets it right the first time
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Thank you!
Caroline Stampfel
Director of Programs
[email protected]
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Questions?
If you have a question, please click on the little man
with his arm raised icon on either the upper left or
the top of your screen. Click on “raise hand.” We will
then call on you to ask your question over the phone.