How an Infographic turned into a Design Success Story

Picture one of those awkward subway moments: silence fills the car until someone lets out a sneeze so loud that everyone around jumps. Embarrassing? Maybe. But it can also be fascinating! Why do some people sneeze quietly, while others seem to fire off a real nasal cannon?

That’s exactly the question that led a team of journalists and designers at The Washington Post to create an illustrated feature explaining the physiology behind loud sneezes. More than just a scientific curiosity, the piece became a perfect example of how well-crafted visual storytelling can go viral — even when the topic is, let’s say, a bit unusual.

Image: The FlowingData

Science, humor, and visuals: the perfect combination to go viral

The piece blends science and humor with animated visual elements to explain that the sound of a sneeze depends on several factors: the force of expelled air, the shape of the nose, muscle tension, and, of course, personal style. Yes, sneezing can almost be a personal trademark.

But the real highlight isn’t just the physiology — it’s how the content was presented. With dynamic illustrations, animated infographics, and accessible language, the piece turned a trivial curiosity into a fun, informative, and highly shareable read.

The power of visual storytelling (even for the strangest topics)

At Cluster, we believe any piece of data can become a great story when paired with the right design.

It doesn’t matter if the topic is technological innovation, economic trends, or the mystery behind loud sneezes: when there’s an engaging narrative and well-crafted visuals, content comes to life.

More than just conveying information, visual content creates connection. It humanizes data, sparks curiosity, and evokes emotion. In the case of sneezes, humor was the trigger; in other contexts, it could be empathy, surprise, or discovery.

Design that tells stories and grabs attention

To turn even the most common topics into high-impact content, we apply principles such as:

• Emotional infographics: numbers with narrative and meaning
• Purposeful illustrations: not just explanatory, but delightful
• Non-linear narratives: that surprise with interactions and micro-animations
• Authentic tone of voice: adapted to the audience without losing personality

What did we learn from a sneeze?

That going viral doesn’t always come from the extraordinary. Sometimes an everyday detail — like a sneeze — can spark conversation, shares, and engagement, as long as it’s presented with creativity and purpose.

Got an “unusual” idea, an interesting piece of data, or a technical topic that’s hard to communicate? Talk to us.

At Cluster, we know how to turn ideas into visual experiences that make noise — in the best possible sense.

Read the full article here: The Washington Post – Why Some People Sneeze So Loud

Want to find out how we turn data and ideas into impactful visual stories? Get in touch with our team.

Source: The Washington Post