This guide is intended to give an overview of infographics and some questions to consider when creating them.

What is an Infographic? #

An infographic is a visual representation of information, data, or knowledge intended to present complex information quickly and clearly. It combines elements like text, images, charts, and diagrams to convey a message or tell a story in an engaging and easily understandable way. Infographics are often used to simplify large amounts of data, highlight key points, and make information more accessible to a wider audience. There are variety of infographic types including statistical, informational, timeline, process, and comparison.

Defining Your Infographic #

• Identify the Purpose: What message do you want to convey? What is the main goal of your infographic?
• Know Your Audience: Who will be viewing this infographic? Tailor the content and design accordingly.
• Research: How can you gather accurate and relevant data?

Infographic Content #

• Title: What is a clear and concise title that captures the essence of the infographic?
• Visuals: How can you use charts, graphs, icons, and images to represent data visually?
• Text: How can you keep text minimal, using bullet points and short sentences?
• Media and Graphics: How will you source the images, videos, and icons you need to create your infographic? The DKC has a guide on Free Media resources that may be helpful as you create your infographic.
• Citation and Attribution: Where will you put citations and attributions for the research and and any media you use?

Designing Your Infographic #

• Size: How large does your Infographic need to be and what orientation? Your final product goals will help you determine what size is appropriate.
• Simplicity: How can you break down the information into digestible sections? How can you keep it simple and avoid clutter while focusing on the key message?
• Visual Hierarchy: How can you use size, color, and placement to guide the viewer’s eye to the most important information?
• Consistency: Are you using a consistent style with fonts, colors, and icons? Using these elements repeatedly and in the same manner can enhance your message and create a cohesive visual experience.
• Charts and Graphs: What is the appropriate type of chart or graph for your data (e.g., bar charts for comparisons, pie charts for proportions)?
• Accessibility: Is your infographic is digital or will you need to print it (or both)? This will impact some of your accessibility considerations. Do you use readable fonts? Is your color palette friendly to people with low-vision or color blindness? For digital infographics do you use heading structure or alt text on images? This guide on how to create Accessible Infographics and Data Visualizations has helpful things to think about. The DKC’s guide on Accessible Visual Design also has links to tools that can help you check accessibility. Consider how you might provide alternative means for accessing your infographic.

Selecting a Tool #

• What tools will you need to build your infographic?: Many tools like Canva or Venngage can aid in creating an infographic by providing templates, assets, and easy to use data visualization elements you can use. Additionally, consider any accessibility elements and if the tool you are using has the features you need.

Examples of Infographic Projects #

• This site showcases the work of the 2014 Historic Preservation Planning Laboratory at the University of Mary Washington.
  • The syllabus for the course (infographic form of course)

Updated by Shannon Hauser 9/23/24