An informational graphic, known as an infographic, offers an aesthetically pleasing method to represent a vast amount of intricate data in a compact space. Most infographics display data along a linear timeline or present it through graphs or maps. Before creating the graphic, you'll need to collect data, including relevant statistics. Various online platforms and resources are available to assist you in designing and refining your infographic for a professional finish.
Steps
Select a topic or message for your infographic. Your infographic should convey information that informs its audience about a subject or convinces them to support a message. For instance, you might aim to educate a high school physical education class about the benefits of regular exercise. Utilizing an infographic to present statistics on teenage obesity and weight loss can effectively underscore the importance of consistent physical activity.
- Infographics can employ both visuals and statistics to elucidate the intended message.
- Infographics have diverse applications beyond revenue generation for businesses. Nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and individuals can all leverage infographics, in addition to corporations.
Acquire relevant data supporting your infographic's theme. Infographics built solely on personal opinions lack credibility. Thankfully, online sources offer abundant reliable data. For instance, for an infographic advocating high school exercise benefits, gather data on teenage obesity and methods to mitigate it. Here are prime sources for statistics:
- Utilize Google’s public data crawler: https://www.google.com/publicdata/directory.
- Explore Chartsbin.com for global statistics on hunger, marriage, crime, and disease.
- Consider StatPlanet for diverse global statistics.
- Consult government agencies like the US Bureau of Labor Statistics or the EPA for trustworthy civic data.
- Refer to trade journals and scientific studies for additional research-based data.
Devise a visual flowchart for presenting your data. As infographics rely heavily on visuals, structure your data in a logical sequence. Begin with a statistic about teen sedentary habits, followed by 3 or 4 potential solutions (e.g., joining sports teams, cycling, and community fitness programs) with their respective success rates in reducing teen obesity.
- Sketch out multiple image, statistic, and heading ideas on paper to determine the most effective template or style.
- Continue brainstorming flowcharts until you find an impactful one.
Choosing Tools to Craft Your Infographic
Select a template-based infographic platform to design your graphic. Free and subscription-based websites offer tools for creating downloadable or embeddable visual aids. For user-friendly online infographic creation, consider Easel.ly. Its drag-and-drop interface eliminates the need for coding or programming knowledge.
- Alternatively, try Venn Gage, another free and intuitive platform. Visit: https://venngage.com/.
- For $29 per month, Piktochart.com provides additional features.
Consider services like Timeline JS or Dipity for timeline infographics. These platforms assist in creating infographics based on chronological event sequences. Incorporate your photos as illustrations. A timeline layout effectively showcases trends evolving over time.
- For example, if your infographic aims to illustrate the rising sedentary lifestyles of teens throughout the 20th century, a timeline format is ideal.
Utilize Visualize.me for crafting a resume-infographic hybrid. Transforming your LinkedIn data into a visually engaging infographic is made possible with Visualize.me. This offers a dynamic and captivating method to showcase your professional credentials.
- This feature is particularly beneficial for infographics promoting specific services (e.g., pet sitting or personal training).
- For further details, visit: http://vizualize.me/.
Arranging Text, Images, and Graphics
Opt for a vertical layout for your project. Vertical images are better suited for websites and mobile devices compared to horizontal ones. Horizontal infographics may pose readability issues for mobile users, limiting your audience reach.
Position a prominent headline at the top of your design. Use a large, easily readable font to grab the reader’s attention. Incorporate numbers in your headline if presenting numerical data or statistics. For instance, craft titles like “Strategies for Combating Childhood Obesity,” “Daily Online Time Consumption Statistics,” or “12 Nations Embracing Technological Advancements.”
- Choose a font for the title that balances readability with reflecting the infographic's personality.
- If available, seek input from graphic design professionals or typographers within your office for font selection.
Thoroughly review and refine your text content to eliminate errors and typos. Infographics, with their diverse layouts and numerous text elements, may hide errors more effectively than traditional documents like press releases. Hence, dedicate time to self-editing: read aloud and rectify any grammatical or substantive mistakes.
- If in an office setting, consider seeking feedback from 1 or 2 colleagues to enhance the quality of your writing.
Enhance your statistics with 1–6 captivating images. Visuals are powerful tools to engage viewers, so illustrate the insights of your infographic with graphics rather than relying solely on text. Employing custom illustrations can significantly boost the appeal of your infographic. Viewers are likely to respond positively to custom-made graphics.
- For instance, consider shaping your pie chart depicting teen exercise rates and effectiveness like a basketball. Alternatively, commission an artistic friend to create 1-2 images of joyful, jogging teens to complement your statistics on teen health.
- If your infographic aims to promote an Instagram account or photography business, opt for photographs instead of illustrations.
- If creating your own illustrations isn't feasible, numerous free images are available online. Many infographic design websites also offer a selection of free generic images.
Compile the final rendition. Once all elements of the infographic—data, graphics, images, and text—are prepared, assemble the final graphic. Various software like Photoshop, InDesign, or Gimp can facilitate this process. Alternatively, utilize the free online platform Pixlr Editor.
Useful Pointers
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Once your infographic is complete, allocate ample time to its promotion. Integrate it into your personal website and share it across social media platforms. For business purposes, include it in email campaigns and print it for distribution to clients.
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If the infographic is intended to advertise a business, incorporate your logo. Ensure prominent placement of your logo, website, and social media URLs to facilitate website discovery.
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When using online data or statistics, remember to provide proper attribution at the bottom of each infographic section.
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