Assessing Attitudes Toward Content and Design in Alibaba's Dry Goods Business Infographics. (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Yuejiao
• Is Part Of: Journal of business and technical communication. Volume 31:Number 1(2017:Jan.)
• Page Start: 30
• Page End: 62
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: visual communication -- business communication -- e-commerce -- information visualization -- information design; Business communication -- Periodicals; Communication of technical information -- Periodicals; 658.45
• DOI: 10.1177/1050651916667530
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-6519

Abstract

Alibaba's Graphic Media (GM) is the first and only Internet content source that uses infographics to educate Chinese e-commerce merchants. This study investigates target audiences' attitudes toward GM infographics. Two focus groups perceived GM as a practical information source that aided them in decision making and daily business operations. They preferred viewing graphics to texts and particularly favored statistical graphics. They also identified issues with viewing GM infographics on mobile devices. Based on the study's findings, the author proposes three areas that communicators can address when designing infographics in similar contexts: content, usability, and overall visual appeal.