Getting Started with Infographics

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.

Planning 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? Are your sources credible?

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 #

  • 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: Do you use readable fonts? Is your color palette friendly to people with low-vision or color blindness?

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.