Information Quickly and Clearly
Infographics help us to understand information through visuals by using graphs and other tactics that improve someone’s comprehension of a subject. Using these tools can help a viewer understand a complex topic or product in a matter of a few minutes. Everyone learns in different ways. That’s why it’s important to provide customers and your target audience with multiple forms of media. This will ensure your message is reaching all groups in a format that works for them. Creating a great infographic requires you to plan and create a design strategy. Here are 5 concepts to keep in mind to get you started:
1. What platform should I use?
There are a lot of platforms available to create an infographic. Some are free-with the option to pay for a premium version- such as Canva, Venngage and Visme. Depending on how detailed your infographic is, or how you are going to use it, these can be good options for you. Take the time to think about what you need in your infographic, then browse these options to decide which suites you best. If you are looking for a more advanced option in the visual world, Adobe Illustrator is a great choice. You have to pay for this product, but if you or someone within your company knows these tools, Adobe Creative Cloud Products will be your best friend.
2. Choose a topic.
You may know how to use graphs and other visual tools, but without a clear and defined topic or message, the power of an infographic is lost. Do a brainstorming session to decide on a topic. Think about topics that you have previously had a hard time explaining through other media formats, or a common question you want to answer. Maybe an infographic is your answer to simplifying this topic or question. Or, maybe you’re about to launch a new product or have complex information that you want to make more interesting; an infographic can help. Then, ask yourself what you know about your topic and write it down. If there’s a lot that you want to say, don’t be afraid to split the topic into two different infographics. You want to hone in on one idea or question; don’t get caught on answering everything in one graphic. Sometimes an article or story posted along with the infographic is good to explain the simple stuff, while leaving the remaining information to be explained in the infographic.
3. It’s all about layout.
Knowing how much information you have on your chosen topic will help you decide how big you want your infographic to be. There is no size that is ‘right,’ but the standard recommendation is that it doesn’t exceed 600 pixels wide or 1,800 pixels long. This is so it will fit in most submission websites. Another thing to keep in mind is a horizontal or vertical infographic. Sometimes the information will flow more efficiently in a vertical manner (most common), where you would want it longer than it is wide. However, there are instances where a horizontal infographic, wider than it is long, will be more effective. Knowing your format will then help you plan your spacing and graphs, so they flow and look like a cohesive idea all together.
4. Using icons, visuals, and graphs.
Remember that empty space is your friend. If you have too many icons and graphs jumbled into one infographic, your viewer will get lost and overwhelmed quickly. Keeping your information clear and informative is essential. Empty space will help the viewer to be guided through the information, while also having a break to think about the information they just viewed. Another thing to keep in mind is that infographics aren’t meant for reading paragraphs of information. You want to utilize icons and graphs in a way that conveys the information without using many words. If your infographic is effective, you should be able to understand what it is about at first glance of the visuals. Choosing the correct type of graph is one of the most important parts of conveying information. Bar charts, column charts, pie charts, diagrams, maps, timelines, pictograms, networks, or big numbers each have a different purpose; look through your options and decide which will fit your topic best.
5. Effective fonts, text size and colors.
Choosing a font that supports your topic will make your infographic powerful. There are curvy, bold, straight, san serif, serif and many other styles of fonts. Each one can send a different message. You should choose 2-3 fonts that contrast enough to draw attention to certain things but are similar enough to keep the idea cohesive. Keep this in mind while also creating a hierarchy within your text size. Your header should be 36-48-point font and a sub-heading should be a bit smaller. Additionally, important numbers, words, or sections should draw more attention with a larger size or contrasting font to the rest of the graphic. Lastly, to create an infographic that is both informative and visually appealing, you need to establish a clear theme and color palette. Think about your topic and choose colors according to the topic. Color can often transfer into emotion and most people associate a color with a feeling or an experience they’ve had. Stick to 3-5 colors and try to stay along the lines of the 60-30-10 Rule. This means that 60% of your infographic should be your dominant color. This is usually a pretty neutral color that isn’t overbearing. 30% of the infographic should be your secondary color. This should support your dominant color in an appealing way. Finally, 10% of your infographic should be your accent color. This is used to draw attention to a specific number, graph, or word that you want people to notice as important.
With this information you can be well on your way to creating a great infographic. Keep in touch with BG Digital Group this week for more tips that will help you create your next infographic!