My new favorite company: visual.ly. 

We all have heard how Big Data will surely be one of the leading tech trends of 2012. Companies of all stripes are coping with oceans of data about user and customer behavior, which is partly the result of the proliferation of all manner of connected devices both mobile and in-home. 

So the challenge becomes, how do we parse this data and make sense of it? Infographics are a great way to distill data into creative, visually appealing and comprehensible analysis. Visual.ly is developing a platform to let anyone create a high-quality infographic, even if you aren’t trained in Motion, After Effects or Flash. The company already showcases some of the best graphics across the Web and allows pros to upload and promote their work, connecting with peers and receiving valuable feedback in the process. This firm is well-positioned to capitalize on consumers’ and businesses’ hunger for data, as well as the ever-growing DIY creative culture in America. 

Also, if you like data and design, you better start reading FlowingData.com. It will be interesting to see how the business model for Visual.ly evolves. For example, FD offers yearly subscriptions for which users receive source code and monthly tutorials about how to design pro-grade data visualizations.