Each year brings a wave of blockbuster releases, and Atilio Flores captures their essence through data visualization in his Cinema Infographic 2023. Winner in the Newspapers category, Flores combines journalistic insight and graphic design to turn film details into a compelling, two-page journey.
Project Overview
Cinema Infographic 2023 presents major film releases (Guardians of the Galaxy, Willy Wonka, Super Mario and more) through striking layouts and impactful data points. Each spread takes 8 to 10 hours of research, design, and alignment with the movie’s visual style, creating an annual showcase of cinematic trends.
Winning Project Title: Cinema Infographic 2023
Winning Category: Newspapers
Lead Designer: Atilio Flores
Interview with Atilio Flores
1. Can you share how you got started in design, and how has your work grown over time?
Atilio Flores: I started in the world of design more than ten years ago as a self-taught professional. For that reason I always say, “I didn’t choose design, design chose me.” Although my university degree is in journalism, life led me to graphic design as I planned and organized various editorial projects as a freelancer.
In 2015 I was invited to join the editorial team of Diario El Mundo, the third most important newspaper in El Salvador at the time. One of the editors saw my design work in a university newspaper and reached out to me.
Since 2016 I have specialized in infographic design focused on cinema. Throughout this decade I have developed a distinctive style that highlights the most significant elements of the industry through impactful data visualization. This evolution has allowed me to earn multiple distinctions in international competitions worldwide.
2. What was the brief or challenge behind your winning project, and what primary goals guided you?
Atilio Flores: Each year, as is well known, cinema brings highly anticipated releases. The challenge lies in transforming information about these films into a unique experience that allows the audience to discover the most significant and interesting details.
Every infographic becomes a race against time. Its creation takes around 8 to 10 hours, involving research, gathering elements, and final composition, which must align with the graphic style of the film or series.
Additionally, a self-imposed challenge is ensuring that each infographic surpasses the previous one, captivating the audience and enticing users to engage with its content.
3. What inspired your project, and how did you transform ideas into the final design?
Atilio Flores: Cinema itself is a source of inspiration for me, as well as the various elements that can enhance a film’s marketing. The creative freedom I have in selecting the topics for my infographics allows me to pour even more passion into each design.
One of the biggest challenges is condensing a large amount of information into a two-page spread. Ideas go through multiple transformations before reaching their final version, making it a fascinating process where creativity and inspiration play a key role.
4. Did you encounter challenges during your project, and how did you overcome them?
Atilio Flores: As I mentioned before, each infographic comes with its own challenge. Some are graphical, while others lie in the textual aspect. At times, inspiration doesn’t come right away, but as the overall concept becomes clearer, ideas start to flow spontaneously.
Often, the key is to experiment with different approaches using moodboards and to have a clear understanding of the available elements for its creation.
5. How do you stay updated with new design trends and technologies, such as AI?
Atilio Flores: I believe that artificial intelligence can be a useful tool in certain situations. It’s not about demonizing it but rather learning to coexist with these new ways of working and using them efficiently alongside our own skills.
Of course, the criteria and direction of the work must always come from us, which is why staying well-informed is essential.
6. How do you balance client or market demands with your own creative style?
Atilio Flores: That’s a very good question, and honestly, I’m not sure how to answer it. I believe that time itself provides the answers, especially in my case, where my style has taken around ten years to fully develop.
However, the projects I’ve worked on have been well received by both my supervisors and readers, allowing me to continue evolving in my work.
7. Reflecting on your winning project, what lessons did you learn, and how will these insights shape your future work?
Atilio Flores: Receiving recognition within the industry is important because it confirms that your work is valued and well received. It also allows you to measure yourself against other professionals in the same field.
Additionally, it serves as a benchmark to assess your own work and determine the path for further professional growth. Without a doubt, it marks a before and after in any designer’s career.
8. What does winning the Design MasterPrize mean to you both personally and professionally, and how does this achievement inspire your upcoming projects?
Atilio Flores: I am deeply grateful to receive this recognition from the Design MasterPrize in its inaugural edition. Without a doubt, it marks an important milestone in my career within the editorial design industry and inspires me to continue giving my best in every job and project involving data visualization. I am thankful to God and to everyone who has supported my work.
ConclusioN
Cinema Infographic 2023 confirms that thoughtful data visualization can turn movie details into a dynamic editorial experience. Atilio Flores’s journalistic roots and design passion showcase the power of infographics to engage and inform readers.
