With an overwhelming influx of information and an increasing tendency for humans to scan data and numbers especially on screens, we need to redefine how information is communicated. Infographics are the way to go. These visuals help your audience grasp data easily, by using images and condensed figures. They improve cognition and recognisability through the visual system of the human brain. We go in depth into the art of designing infographics. How will you then transform the contents of this blog post into one?
Plan the infographic design
Every infographic has a story with data. Before starting with designing your infographic, you have to think about the story you want to tell. The point of view you choose will help you determine which information you need to include. Infographics have limited space for content, so the purpose of your infographic should be focused on. The layout of your infographic should not only reflect the theme of information but also enhancing the communication of it. Before starting with the design, create an outline, where you include your headers, data, and any design details you don’t want to forget.
Choose the perfect title
Titles are very important. They should be very catchy and descriptive. The readers should get a sense of what the information will be, to engage them and make them want to read further. It’s also handy if you use bold headlines and specific subheader that tells readers exactly what information they are going to get.
Create a wireframe
Wireframes and grids are the structural base to any design. Designing on a grid let you organise information easily. They also play an essential role. They keep objects and elements aligned. If you align-items, you can reference the same vertical grid line and then space each list item accordingly. It’s very useful to use a grid system to create margins. It’s also good to keep space between the elements and the edge of your canvas to avoid visual tension. You can use any size of margin you want, but it’s important to keep the margin consistent along the edge of your canvas.
Perfect Layout
There are hundreds of possible infographics layouts to choose from. You could use a one-column layout for a minimal infographic or create a list infographic by spitting the layout into two columns. You can try some of the layouts and see which one the best works with your data.
Incorporate different infographic designs
Typography is a very important element for infographic design. It’s one way to explain your ideas and information when images, graphs or icons can’t, so you have to choose the best fonts for your data. Try also to limit the amount of text you want to put in your infographic. The best infographics have their text acting as a secondary explanation for the visual content. Make also sure that your type is legible. Avoid decorative or script type as it tends to be hard to read. To keep infographic designs cohesive, limit your use of fonts to a maximum of three types, but also don’t stick with just one. By using two brands fonts, you can create a nice dynamic and hierarchy of information.
Use photography
Make sure you use photos that have a consistent style and lighting. You need to pick photos with the same lighting effects, same backdrops, the same amount of dark areas. It’s very important to stick to a certain style as images clearly don’t fit the set, it will distract the reader from the information. If you are using a modern use of photography, use only images with flat colour. When you are going for a neutral newspaper approach, you can use black and white images. If you are using a lot of images, which can distract from information, you can solve that easily. You can use a cropping, such as circle frames.
Use contrasts
Contrast gives visual impact by placing two different elements beside each other. When an infographic has a light background with bold coloured shapes, your eyes are immediately attracted to the bold colours. This allows us to organise information by having a certain element more prominent than another.
- Contrast by colours
- Contrast by Typography sizes
- Contrast by visuals