In my opinion, infographics have a duel purpose: to present information in a quickly understood way, and to provide sharing-friendly content for an increasingly social media focused world. The best infographics really exploit both, and are passed around from person to person and convey real data in an entertaining manner. All while providing a platform for a strong SEO campaign that doesn’t follow the traditional keyword trend of other content.

But one thing I have noticed becoming more popular with visual data is shoving them full of so many graphs and images that it become a never ending stream of information. Technically, there is nothing wrong with this. However, it isn’t necessary to create a visual data representation, either.

Below are eight examples of fantastic infographics that got their point across without overloading the user with too many graphs.

1. Colors In Cultures

Even if you are going with a single graph, you can pack in a wallop of information. This graph showing qualities of nations based on color and an intricate labeling scheme proves just how much you can convey in one graph, where many other infographics would have used several to represent each different factor. This makes it more relevant for the creator from a sharing standpoint, as it is so wrapped in a neat little package that is it more likely to be linked to.

2. Periodic Table Of Visualization

What’s familiar will stick; this is a very basic principle of visual data design. Referencing the periodic table, which everyone is at least familiar with and can name on sight, they have caught the viewers attention. But more than that, they have established a well known way of presenting non-related information. One more interesting thing to note is that this inforgraphic does have multiple graphs, but located within the single graph itself. You roll over the different parts for an expansion on the information. It has the best of both worlds: both simple and complex in one image…an impressive feat!

3. Facebook Privacy

Just because you don’t want a large number of graphs doesn’t mean you can’t have a few without overdoing it. Facebook’s privacy options and terms is an expansive topic, because the social media site has consistently had the longest set of rules of any related website on the net. Instead of trying to pack too much into a single graph, they put together a small collection dealing with different elements. What makes this so helpful is the ability to break off from the original topic and share only what you want to. Or just highlight one fact ahead of the others.

4. Movie Trilogy Meter

Sometimes it isn’t the information within a graph, but the topic that it is based around that makes it so effective. This one gives a fun (if less than scientific) method of gauging the quality of movie trilogies, movie by movie.

5. United States of Autocomplete

When all else fails, make it easy to relate to the topic. Everyone has used Google, and probably does on a regular basis. This takes the autocorrect feature, presents it in a fun and entertaining way and ensures that plenty of people will want to share it with their friends.

6. Social Media Venn Diagram

Venn diagrams have become infographic powerhouses in the last few years. The quickest way to convey a point, this one uses a popular topic, places it within the Venn diagram format and immediately creates a graphic that everyone will want to point out to their buddies through the very social media sites it has mentioned.

7. Difference Between Nerds and Geeks

Providing an explanation to a popular debate, this Venn diagram manages to be both easily shared and further debated. This gives great interaction potential, which you can see in the comments section.

8. Where To Post Your Status Update

For the social media illiterate who nevertheless have a profile on every major social networking site around, this is another fun infographic that gives a super simple layout to get their point across. As a lighthearted topic, they went with a lighthearted design. A good choice, and one that worked well.

Conclusion

You don’t have to load your infographic with graphs and charts. All you need is one or two, each one conveying your information, either extensive or short and sweet. What are some of your favorites?

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Infographics Don’t Have To Be Overloaded to Be Hilarious: 8 Examples