Skip to Main Content

Learning Portal - Learning Online: Infographics

Infographics

Infographics are visual representations of data, using images and charts for easy and quick reading and analysis.

Top Tips

✓ Decide what you want to say. What do you want to get across to your reader? Think about the different ways data can be visualized. 

✓ Sketch out your design. Always sketch a draft of your design on paper before creating your graphic using the software as your design may change many times.

 Choose your software. There are many tools to choose from, all requiring different technology skills, choose the one that you’re most comfortable with, and that does the job.

✓ Find images. Infographics without graphics are just information. To find royalty-free or copyright-free images, try searching sites like FlickrPixabayThe Noun ProjectFlaticon and Google Images. Be sure to use the filters to search for images that are free to re-use or have a Creative Commons license, otherwise, you may not be allowed to use them.

 Take notes of the sources, and remember to cite. Cite all images and information used but try not to impact the design of the infographic.

✓ Put them all together. Once you have your plan, build all your graphics and data together. For animated infographics, you can upload your video to YouTube, OneDrive, Google Drive, or DropBox and then share the link with your audience.

How to Create a Piktochart Infographic Easily 

Watch this tutorial video to learn how to create an infographic using Piktochart [from 2022].

Tutorial - Creating Infographics

Welcome 

In this tutorial we will:

  • Define "infographics" and explore why they are such an effective medium.
  • Design an infographic.
  • Construct an infographic.

What is an infographic?

Simply put, an infographic is data, presented visually, that tells a story. Infographics can be used to convey complex information in a concise and visually appealing manner.

Check out this video by First Tier Studios Ltd. in 2018.

 

Storytelling With Infographics 

This video is by MSL in 2013. 

Components of an Infographic

Infographics are often made up of the following:

                                                                                                         

Visuals                                                                     Content                                                         Knowledge
[colour, typography, graphics]                         [facts, data, statistics]                                       [insight/perspective]

 

Examples of the type of information that can be displayed

Quantitative: This data reflects concrete and measurable facts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Qualitative: This data reflects information, preference, opinion or emotion.

Why Infographics?

There are many reasons why infographics are becoming a common form of communication in many industries.

Visit the Why your Brain Craves Infographics website to read through this infographic that explains why infographics are so effective.

 

Types of Infographics

Comparison 

  • This vs that
  • Clearly divided into 2 columns
  • Showing differences between 2 similar concepts
  • Visuals should illustrate differences immediately

Chart 

  • Not meant to be read like an article, more for exploring
  • Imagine explaining this information in a textual format - you would have to re-read everything; opening and closing paragraphs would reiterate; with a graphic, there is no redundant text

Timeline 

  • history of something: concept, product, service, person (e.g. timeline of their life)

Process

  • Explains complex and multilayered info
  • Can add branching and decision making

Article 

  • Components of an essay or article broken into parts
  • Think of it in rectangular blocks
  • Use a lot of different elements: definitions, comparisons, checklists - keeps it from being boring, keeps viewer alert
  • Doesn't need to be read chronologically as it would be in a textual report - a reader can pick out whatever their eye is drawn to
  • Reduces redundant text compared to a report

Designing an Infographic

Step 1: Decide what you want to say 

What do you want to get across to your reader? Think about the different ways the data can be visualized.

Each of the infographics on the previous page could probably be displayed in different ways and using different designs. However, each design may subtly change the meaning, or at least change the way the audience interacts or reacts to it

Step 2: Pinpoint patterns  

  • What does the data say?
  • What insight is starting to emerge from patterns in the statistics or data?
  • What type of infographic might fit your data or core message?
  • What types of charts, images, or graphics might be useful to convey your message?

Step 3: Find an appropriate metaphor/mental model  

What are the visual elements of your subject? Organizing your information into the appropriate visual metaphor or mental model will make your infographic easier to understand and more enjoyable to read. For example, you can display the ingredients of different drinks in a cup, or guide the eye of the reader with a road for an infographic on travel.

Make sure the visual elements reflect your content accurately. Have large, eye-catching graphics relating to important or common trends. Make sure that when you are comparing size or numbers, the larger amount has a larger graphic even if it is not the point you are trying to emphasize.

Step 4: Sketch out a design 

Always sketch a draft of your design on paper before creating your graphic using software. Your design may change many times before you get it right and it's much easier to scrap a piece of paper than it is to start over in the software.

Trust us; we speak from experience!

Step 5: Choose your tool 

There are many tools to choose from, all requiring different technology skills. On the next page of this tutorial, we will discuss three different tools - PowerPoint, Piktochart, Canva, and Keynote.

Tools for Creating Infographics 

Creating an infographic doesn't have to be an intense technology experience. Here are some tools that should make it easier for you to create your first infographic.

Powerpoint

You can insert Smart Art, charts, images, and shapes to easily create an infographic. Just make sure to start with a blank slide and resize the page if necessary.

Tutorials 

Canva

Canva is an easy-to-use tool to create infographics and more. It offers a collection of templates to create your own infographic.

Watch tutorials from Canva.

Piktochart 

Piktochart is an easy-to-use infographic maker. It offers a collection of templates and images to create your own infographic. You can also import your own images.

Apple Keynote (animated infographics) 

If you want your infographic to be livelier, you could try making an animated infographic, which still includes images, charts and graphs but can also include music and narration. You can create infographics that are animated using Apple Keynote.

Finding and Citing Images

Images

For a quick what to use and what NOT to use when searching for free images online, consult this guide. Here are some sites with images that have copyright restrictions either reduced or removed.

Photographs

Icons

Sharing/Uploading Infographics

There are many ways to share your infographic with your professor or classmates. Always consult with your professor about their preferred sharing method.

USB and/or EMAIL - Download your infographic to a USB key and submit to your professor. Or download the file and email to your professor.

  • PowerPoint - save the file as a PDF

  • Piktochart - Download  Download as .PNG

 

Upload to a Streaming Site - You can upload your video to sites like YouTube or Vimeo and then share your video by emailing the link. When you upload a video to YouTube we highly recommend you set the privacy as UNLISTED for your class projects (unless otherwise assigned by your professor) as this means the video is only viewable with the URL/link for the video, but not through searching on YouTube, Google, etc.

Upload to Cloud Storage - You can upload your video to OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox and then share your video by copying and emailing the link.

Where Can You Find Infographics?

Infographics are everywhere! Whether it's in our social media feeds or plastered on a large billboard by the highway, we are consuming more and more information through infographics every day. Here are some examples of how infographics are used to convey information in everyday life.

Social Media 

Practice Good Password Etiquette from @GetCyber Safe 

 

 

 

 

Periodic TableStudy Materials 

Periodic Table by Cepheus (Public Domain) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maps 

TTC Systems Map by Craftwerker used under CC BY SA 4.0

Attribution 

Unless otherwise stated, the material in this guide is from the Learning Portal created by College Libraries Ontario. Content has been adapted for the NWP Learning Commons in May 2021. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons BY NC SA 4.0 International License.

All icons on these pages are from The Noun Project. See individual icons for creator attribution.