Six Tips for Creating Amazing Infographics

Infographics are a great multi-purpose tool with a number of uses in the field of design. Because they provide a lot of information at a glance, infographics are ideal for the fast-paced world of web design and technology, in which you often have only a few seconds to capture the attention of a potential reader.

Here are some tips to help you use infographics on your website, in social media, and on promotional material for your company in a way that really gets people talking.

Understand what infographics do

Infographics are pictures or other visual representations that convey a relatively large amount of data in a small space. They include things like graphs, maps, visual networks, interactive pictures, charts, and still more creative visual representations. It is difficult to convey a large amount of complex data in an infographic without it becoming confusing, but infographics are ideal for information that is easier to comprehend when visualized, such as amounts, distances, or changes over time.

Give your graphic a clear theme

Decide beforehand exactly what you want your infographic to explain to viewers. If the theme of your graphic cannot be explained in one simple sentence, then chances are you are trying to include too much information. Use multiple inforgraphics to convey more complex information, or simply put the most interesting or dynamic information in graphic form and expand on it in text.

Make it readable and easy to understand

Readability is important when designing infographics. Many viewers will give the graphic a quick glance, and if it seems hard to read or difficult to understand, move on to get their information from elsewhere. Prevent this by clearly labeling all parts of the graphic, using readable fonts and colors, ensuring that all elements of the graphic are large enough to be seen clearly, and using an intuitive layout.

Provide additional information in text

Infographics are best when they are giving a quick overview of a relatively complex issue. However, it is often impossible to create a single graphic that completely encapsulates or explains all aspects of the data displayed. Don’t hesitate to include additional information in text form for viewers who want to know more. However, make sure that the most important, interesting, or surprising information is included in the graphic, since that is what encourages viewers to become invested in the first place. When relevant, always include a section in the text about how the data in the graphic was collected and compiled.

Consider making it interactive

One of the biggest benefits infographics offer over other methods of conveying information is that they can easily be made interactive. For example, you might design a map comparing smoking statistics for each state in the U.S. that shows the percentage of adults who smoke printed on each state. Then, you might decide to add a function that allows users to click on each state to bring up additional information, such as the percentage of people who are trying to quit, cancer related deaths, or smoking rates by age. Encouraging people to interact is a good way to increase curiosity and engagement with your data, making it more memorable in the long run.

Make it shareable

In many cases, going viral is one of the best things that can happen to an infographic. Encourage viewers to share your graphic on social media sites, netting your website more clicks and boosting interest in your data. Include buttons with the infographic that allow instant linking to major social media sites. Also work on giving your graphic a catchy title that makes people give it a second glance.

When creating an infographic, it is important to balance both informative and design elements. Have a clear idea of what information you want your graphic to convey, and then present that information in a manner that is simple, clear, and attractive.

Infographic about infographics courtesy of think brilliant