Information graphics (or infographics) are graphical depictions of data and information.

By presenting information in a compact and creative manner, infographics engage viewers, simplify complex concepts, and make data understandable.

Five Key Components to a Good Infographic

Knowledge Start with the end in mind-what do you want the reader of the infographic to learn from your infographic? The information presented in an infographic should be comprised of facts AND insights developed by the author about those facts. The author should draw a conclusion from the information, demonstrate a gain in knowledge. Research and Data All infographics must be thoroughly researched and the data presented must be backed up by established facts. While doing that, you will most likely end up with piles of data. Sifting through that, you must condense and decide what data is the most relevant and how you are going to present it. There should be a balance between information and graphics. Another extremely important point to remember is demographics. Who is going to be using your infographic? Are they regular office going people who are used to staring at suburban train line infographics or tourists from a non-English speaking country or 10 year old impressionable kids who are being taught to recognize bullying and raise a voice against it? Take your audience into account when deciding upon colors, symbols, knowledge and complexity. Layout Approach an infographic as you would any other form of design. Put together a rough draft of your layout with words and arrows and sketches. Group relevant data together and visual the flow of information. Because infographics are often complex, a rough draft layout will simplify the process and help you make connections. If your infographic is concentric, having the most important visual and factual content in the middle is a plus. If your infographic is horizontal, the extreme left and extreme right are the starting and ending points of a readers deductions and thoughts, so having your say in those spots will be extremely beneficial. Vertical infographics should have the most important information in an inverted pyramid format. Similarly, lines are very important to design-does the readers eye move easily from one point to the next? Is it clear when the reader is moving from one point to the next? Arrows, lines and background graphics can help with this movement. Color Scheme A color scheme is very important to convey a wide array of messages while keeping the reader confined inside the infographic. Readers can become quickly confused without colors tying down their thoughts visually. You can have 2, 3 or 10 colors, but assigning them before you begin designing will be one of the most important things you do. For instance, you can decide that each section heading will be a specific color, while supporting details will be a different color. Likewise, you could use color blocks, arrows and lines to help differentiate between points. Choosing the right colors and imagery is vital because you cannot show child labor statistics in a subtle yet cheery shade of daffodil. That would just not be right because sunny yellows are associated with joy and happiness; something that child labor is not. Graphics There are two kinds of graphics in an infographic. They are theme graphics and reference graphics. Theme graphics are the defining visuals of the infographic design. Choosing the right theme graphic will tell your reader at a glance what knowledge you wish to share. Brightly colored formal dresses, limousines, and tuxedos show, at a glance, that the infoCgraphic is about prom, for example. Reference graphics are not mandatory in the design. They are usually icons used as visual pointers to avoid cluttering up the design when a lot of content needs to be represented. Color bars, lines, and arrows are examples. Reference graphics help the mind stay organized.