Influence of COVID-19 Information Graphics Awareness Protocols on the Residents of Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

The heterogeneous nature of the recipients of infographics messages and the interpretation of messages signified in advocacy posters, within recent times, especially in outdoor media, has become a major challenge. This is sometimes attributed to negligence on the part of recipients to the details of signs and symbols and the audience' inability to interpret the codes represented on such advocacy poster due to ignorance, illiteracy or ambiguity in content. This has reduced such signs and symbols to mere decorations in print. The awareness information graphics on the covid19 pandemic came in the form of posters (such as flyers and billboards). Most of these posters contain basic hygiene steps that must be followed by individuals and corporate organizations for the containment of the spread of the virus. However, the history of information graphics in Nigeria is traceable to the practice of outdoor media such as billboard art of the advertising industry. The billboard poster art is a veritable out-of-the-home medium of advertising and publicity with strategic potentials of good use of colours, modelling and creative language. Visual data on Covid-19 awareness protocols can be designed and exposed in the most effective way by bringing graphic images to the front burner while producing such designs for public use at a crucial time of pandemic as this. Relevant literature on information graphics, billboard art and the management protocols of the covid19 pandemic were reviewed.  A quantitative research was adopted for descriptive analysis of data from survey with the use of questionnaire while billboard posters were content analysed. Findings revealed that the graphic design elements that form the content of the infographics visuals today may end up as key influencing factors to determine the target audience's choice of information. The paper recommends that various media organizations should endeavour to develop clear, sensible, unambiguous advert visuals with the use of design elements and principles to avoid ambiguity or apathy that may hamper effective communication.