How to Design an Effective Infographic

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

By noting the following steps, you can create an effective infographic for any number of reasons. Infographics are used to distribute information in fun and memorable ways by utilizing simplistic design, appropriate design flow, and colors that match the mood and setting of your piece. Some examples of use include providing information in poster format, social media or web posting, and handouts to provide vital information to the public. With this step by step, you will learn how to implement color theory, layout styles, and fonts to tailor and create memorable infographics that display all kinds of information for any topic you wish!

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Defining Your Goal

PDF download Download Article
  1. Clearly define the primary message of your piece. This is the one thing that your audience will take away from the infographic. Keep your message simple and easy to understand.
    • Successful infographics utilize a single theme or message to make the information easy to read and retain.
    • Do not make your message too complicated or try to define more than one message at one time.
    • Write a simple outline that defines why you are making an infographic.
    • Focus on the goal being to teach and inform the audience or call your audience to take action.
    • Come up with a catchy title that draws people in and makes them curious.
  2. Determining who your audience is will be the single most important step. Here you will define what type of person, demographic, age group, or party of interest your infographic is intended for.
    • Use simple fun text for elementary school children, and concise large text for older individuals.
    • Make the message relatable to the target audience (ie. Elementary school children will not be interested in learning about skin care, but adults and dermatology patients will).
    • If you have trouble defining your audience, think about who the information will benefit the most.
    Advertisement
  3. The main use for an infographic is to display information that is quick and easy to read and retain. Most infographics do not simply teach the viewer, but also ask the viewer to do something. This is called a “call-to-action”. Imagine the response you want from your audience. Here are two examples:
    • A hand washing infographic that illustrates the reasons for handwashing and calls the audience to action to help prevent the spread of germs.
    • An environmental infographic that depicts what happens to sea life when exposed to trash and calls the audience to clean up the beaches or recycle.
  4. Conduct research on the topic you choose so that your information is accurate and up to date. Make sure the information is within the last couple of years so that you can be sure it is still relevant to the topic.
    • Retrieve information from scholarly pages, journals, and publications that are reviewed (Articles are okay if the author can be verified and is knowledgeable).
    • Do not use information that is old or outdated on a topic that is current (i.e. Science, technology, medicine).
    • Only use information that is relevant and adds to the topic or message.
    5. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Applying the Information

PDF download Download Article
  1. Create an outline for your information or make a storyboard to help you visualize how you want to portray and deliver your information.
    • Arrange your data in a way the allows the reader's eye to move naturally through the information.
    • Set a focal point and branch data away from it by using text size, color, and positioning to emphasize key points.
    • Do not overcrowd your infographic with too much text or too many graphics. Allow some space between elements and remember, simple is better.
  2. Select a layout that will not distract from the information and leave you with enough space to add all the essential evidence to your message.
    • Lay out your information in various ways (horizontal, vertical) and decide what looks best. Ask someone for input.
    • Use a user-friendly design program to complete your design and add your information and visuals. Canva is a good free resource for creating infographics and has many templates to choose from and edit.
    • Other programs include Adobe software such as Photoshop or Illustrator, Venngage, Microsoft Word, and Excel.
    • The most effective layout starts in one corner at the top of a page and zigzags down to the opposing corner.
    • You may also use an L method, which means to layout the page to travel up one side and across the top to the furthest corner.
    • Additionally, a simple layout is a top-down, or left-to-right variant.
  3. Use a color palette that matches the brand, topic, field, or tone of your infographic. Stick to between 3 and 5 colors to make the design seem cohesive. Choose colors that don’t detract from the mood or suggest the wrong emotions. Do not use bright pink and vibrant orange on a business infographic for a law office. Instead, try blue or gray. Some color themes to try:
    • Warm colors (red, orange, yellow) are optimistic, energetic, and confident. But they can also portray anger, violence, caution, and danger. When paired with white, they can appear professional.
    • Cool colors (blue, green, and purple) are calm, comforting, harmonious, and balanced. The three cool colors have more varied tones than warm colors do.
    • Green: Nature, life, good luck, money, renewal. Lends to stability and wealth, or the natural world.
    • Blue: Masculine, reliable, tranquil, responsibility. Lends to the medical field and other areas where strength and dependability are important.
    • Purple: Regal, mysterious, romance, creativity, military honor. Lends to luxury, beauty, and romance.
    • Pastel colors may be suitable for themes dealing with children, various medical fields, the sciences, and subtlety.
  4. Use a cohesive color pallet with colors that go together and shapes that are similar. Use fonts that are similar and easy to read or are directly opposite of one another (serif vs sanserif) to add contrast. Always choose fonts that are basic and legible. Refrain from using cursive or handwriting fonts.
    • Sanserif fonts include fonts such as Arial, Franklin Gothic Book, Helvetica. They do not have “feet”.
    • Serif fonts include fonts such as Times New Roman, Baskerville, and Georgia. They have “feet”.
    • Limit text to essential information only. #* Use font colors that contrast with background colors to make it easier to read (white on black, black on pastels, dark green on baby blue).
  5. Use images, icons, and illustrations that enhance and help tell the message you wish to convey. Consider using pie charts, graphs, and other statistical graphics to illustrate data instead of text only.
    • Add visuals that are relevant to your piece and the topic
    • Make use of headers, footers, and table structures to format your information in a readable way.
    • Use visuals to create a hierarchy of information. (ie. adding visuals to the center of your piece will draw the eye closer to this section)
    6. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Revising and Testing

PDF download Download Article
  1. Citations can be included at the bottom of your infographic in smaller text than the rest of the information.
    • Always give yourself credit for the overall infographic. If you are part of a design group or firm, be sure to include your logo or name near the title.
    • Include a step for the audience to follow if they wish to seek more information. This can be a phone number, address, or website.
    • Cite your source information in APA format in a work cited section at the bottom and include in text parenthetical citations for reference.
    • Cite all images that you did not make or take yourself with captions on the image or descriptions on the work cited page.
  2. Reread, review, and revise constantly to avoid spelling and grammar errors in the text. Double-check all data, if your infographic includes it, and make sure that contact information is correct.
    • Use the built in spelling and grammar checker on the program you used to draft your information (Word or Google docs). Or install a third-party spelling and grammar checker, such as ProWritingAid or Grammarly.
    • Revisit the source location of your data to make sure numbers, dates, and other tabled information are accurate.
  3. Always consider sharing a draft of your infographic with people that are part of your intended audience for feedback. Use this feedback to revise your infographic. Ensure that you test your infographic after the revisions and feedback for proper sharing practices.
    • Share your infographic with friends, colleagues, parents, or other family members that match your audience. (i.e. An infographic intended to reach women over the age of 30 about breast cancer could be shared with an aunt, sister, female coworker, grandmother, etc.)
    • Ask questions of those you review your infographic to help revisions. Do you have any remaining questions? Do you need more information? Is the information understandable? How do the colors make you feel? Can you read the text or charts without effort?
    • Ensure that your infographic is sized correctly for the type of media you wish to present it on.
    • Create a separate variation of your infographic that can be sized and shared on social media or websites. Check the size limitations of the platform you intend to share on.
    • Infographics typically have dimensions of 663×2000 pixels, 600×1800 pixels, or 735×1100 pixels. By using these dimensions, the infographic is easily viewable on computers or mobile devices and can be shared on social media. Remember dimensions may vary according to the device and platform.
    4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I make an effective infographic for a possible product?
    Tasmin Angelina Houssein
    Digital Marketing Expert
    Tasmin Angelina Houssein is a digital marketing expert and the Director of Marketing for My Pretty Bands based in Columbia, South Carolina. Tasmin is skilled in SEO content writing, Google Ads, marketing, and consumer engagement, specializing in fashion accessories. My Pretty Bands is a retailer of custom, high-quality Apple Watch bands designed to be elegant, adjustable, and lightweight. My Pretty Bands has been featured in Vents Magazine and the Associated Press. Tasmin also has nearly a decade of experience working in the tourism and hospitality industry, and regularly hosted high-profile clients throughout her previous career working for Chamada Prestige Hotels in Cyprus. She received a BS in Business Management with a concentration in Financial Management from University of Hull.
    Tasmin Angelina Houssein
    Digital Marketing Expert
    Expert Answer
    I recommend keeping it simple and visually appealing. People scrolling on social media have short attention spans, so you need to grab their attention quickly. Use bright and matching colors that are easy on the eyes. The text in your infographic should be short and sweet—no more than 60 characters if possible. Also, make it easily readable. For example, when you’re promoting a jacket, just show one or two images of the jacket along with a few medium or large texts to get their attention.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • Computer (Working on a mobile device is possible but can be difficult)
      • Design program or site (Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Venngage, etc.)
      • Word processor for drafting (Word, Google Docs, Notepad, etc.)

      Tips

      • Mix and match your layout options to create a more interesting piece. (Use an "L" layout for important information and the Title with a left-to-right center layout for charts and tidbits.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Use colors that are in the same color groups.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Always make one or two colors the primary so that your infographic doesn't appear too busy.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Show More Tips
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Be sure give full credit to all sources. Use only images that are stock images, open source images, or your own work. Utilization of copyrighted images without the express permission of the owner may lead to legal repercussions.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      Midjourney: What Are Seed Numbers and How to Get Them
      How to
      Create AI Cover Songs With Another Artist's Voice
      Advertisement

      References

      1. https://seneca.libanswers.com/faq/212284
      2. https://sites.google.com/view/idea-lab-infographics/tutorials/piktochart/citing-and-image-credits
      3. https://platt.edu/blog/psychology-color-graphic-design/
      4. https://juliannakunstler.com/vislit_flow.html
      5. https://library.fletcher.edu/citation_help/sources
      6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9274103/
      7. https://venngage.com/blog/good-infographic/
      8. https://blog.photoadking.com/infographic-size-guide/
      9. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/designing-effective-infographics/
      1. https://www.colormatters.com/color-and-design/basic-color-theory

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 141 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement