Mark Armstrong June 25, 2020 
Illustration: Mark Armstrong
What’s an infographic? Consider the following definitions:
A chart, diagram, or illustration that uses graphic elements to present information in a visually striking way.
A chart, graph, or other image accompanied by minimal text, intended to give an easily understood overview, often of a complex subject.
Infographics are the chocolate chip cookies of the internet. (They go down easy– or at least they should.)
Visually striking, minimal text, easily understood, enjoyable.
With those elements in mind, here are 9 tips for creating a winning infographic.
1. Write a catchy headline. One that gets attention, makes people curious, and gives a clear idea of what the infographic is about.
2. Leave plenty of white (negative) space. A busy infographic is off-putting, hard on the eyes. If that’s the case, people will just scroll on by.
3. Create the infographic for your target audience. You’re a brand trying to engage prospects. Create infographics geared to their needs and interests.
4. Keep text to a minimum. Using visual elements to communicate your data will give it extra impact. Data visualization expert J. Ford Huffman:
“… the text and the image must reinforce each other. Each must show or tell what the other cannot… Few readers want to read more than they have to read… My hunch is that if a graphic is text heavy, its visual isn’t doing its job well, and/or the writer didn’t know when to stop writing.”
5. Stick to a single topic. Multiple topics can make the infographic cluttered and overlong. Cardinal rule: it needs to be easy to understand.
6. The information should flow like a good story. The graphic elements should guide the reader’s eye through the story from beginning to end.
7. An infographic is like a term paper. You’re making a case by presenting facts and data. You need to vouch for that information by citing your sources. This is typically done by listing the relevant URLs below the infographic.
8. I hand-lettered this particular infographic (below) to give it an organic feel, but most infographics use computer fonts. Use two at the most. Using a lot of different fonts creates disharmony. Make sure the smallest type (font size) will be legible.
9. You’re a brand, and you hope people will share your infographic and give you exposure. So be sure to include your logo and/or your website URL on the infographic.
It seems only fitting to put these 9 tips in a handy infographic.
Here it is. (click to enlarge)
One bonus tip: Limit your palette, i.e., don’t use too many colors, and make sure the colors you do use are compatible with each other. You want your infographic to be visually striking, yes, but you also want it to be harmonious– and that means easy on the eye.
Infographics have a surprising history. They go back further than you might think.
They also come in an astounding array of shapes, sizes, formats, and designs. Many are absolutely unique.
You can see what Creative Bloq calls 62 Of The Best Infographics here FWIW, I’d have to disagree. They’re all visually striking– no argument there– but a lot of them seem overly busy, text-heavy, and crammed with too much information. Just my opinion. Take a look, see what you think.
Originally published on Mark Armstrong Illustration.
Digital & Social Articles on Business 2 Community
(37)
