Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
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Quick answers
When should I pick Infographic blocks?
When the story is: dashboards, posters, one-pagers, exhibit boards.
When should I avoid Infographic blocks?
Skip it in cases like: the tiles hide that the numbers are not comparable.
Who invented or popularised it?
Isotype (Neurath, 1920s–30s) plus postwar magazine grids
What does it encode?
modular rectangles whose size and order rank importance
Is it OK in ads?
Yes if one claim is visible at a glance in Meta, Google and retail print; otherwise link to a full figure.
Will a teacher accept it?
Yes for lab reports and poster boards if axes, units and a source line are present.
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.
Rules
- Rules 1 — Use modular rectangles whose size and order rank importance as one channel, not two.
- Rules 2 — Direct labels beat a distant legend.
- Rules 3 — Do not hide zero. If you break the axis, say so.
- Rules 4 — Colour encodes category or magnitude, not both.
- Rules 5 — Put the claim in the title, not just "Infographic blocks".
- Rules 6 — Source and period, even in small type.
Palette
- Palette 1 — Categories: distinct hues. Sequences: one hue, changing value.
- Palette 2 — Diverging: a neutral centre, emphasis at both ends.
- Palette 3 — One brand colour plus greys beats a rainbow.
- Palette 4 — Check contrast on a projector and in greyscale print.
Type
- Type 1 — Tabular figures for numbers. Do not pour body copy into the chart.
- Type 2 — Titles as sentences; axes as short nouns.
- Type 3 — For CJK, drop weight one step and leave tracking.
Infographic blocks: honour modular rectangles whose size and order rank importance, and switch when the tiles hide that the numbers are not comparable.