visual representation of information graphics

What is an Infographic [Theory, Tips, Examples and Mega Inspiration]

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By Al Boicheva

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Updated: May 13, 2022

In today’s article, we’ll review all you need to know about what is an infographic. We’ll look into the anatomy of infographics, their elements, and what makes an infographic great. Of course, we’ll also include many examples and useful tips that will inspire you to create your own engaging infographics. Below is the overview that includes the main topics of the article, so don’t hesitate to fast-travel to specific sections of interest if you’re looking for something in particular.

Article overview:

1. Definition of Infographics 2. What Makes an Infographic Great? 2.1. Audience 2.2. Title 2.3. Simplicity 2.4. Storytelling 3. Types of Infographics 3.1. Visual Infographics 3.2. Timeline Infographics 3.3. Visual Resumes 3.4. List Infographics 3.5. Comparison Infographics 3.6. Statistic Infographics 3.7. Process Infographics 3.8. Map Infographics

4. The Visual Elements Of Infographics 4.1. Colors 4.2. Fonts 4.3. Icons 5. Tips on How To Make An Engaging Infographic 5.1. Tools 5.2. Inspiration 5.3. Topic 5.4. Other Tips

1. What Is an Infographic?

The very name “infographics” is short for information graphics. It defines the visual representation of data that is easy to scan and comprehend at first glance. It’s a powerful tool for businesses and educational institutions to present concepts and data in a more appealing and engaging way.

There are a few things that define what is an infographic in more detail so let’s list them here:

• Infographics simplify heavy data by providing a high-level view.
• They combine images, text, diagrams, charts, and even videos.
• It takes minimal use of text in favor of visuals.
• It’s an effective tool to present and explain complex data quickly and comprehensively.
• Infographics are a great tool for education and building awareness.
• They are designed to reach a wider audience.

2. What Makes an Infographic Great?

After we understood what is an infographic, let’s jump into what makes one engaging. To organize your data in a simple visual way could prove to be quite challenging. Just like in writing content. You still need to focus on catchy headlines, readability, the proper words and images, and most importantly- who are you making the infographic for.

2.1. Audience

A great infographic has a clear idea of who the target audience is . Depending on the age, gender, and culture of the ideal viewer, you already have the right approach on what tone to set in, what colors to use, and what sort of visuals to include.

The key thing is to create infographics that are geared to the needs of your audience.

For example, the infographic below is specifically made for children. It’s entirely visual with a well-crafted colorful illustration with fun characters that instantly reveal the main concept: what animals live underground. It is a great way to educate small children.

Who does live in the underground? by Polina Ugarova

While on the subject of education, infographics have a designated place in textbooks, encyclopedias, and classroom posters. The following example targets older children and students and organizes big historical events in a simple list infographic.

just some assignments… by Bui Dieu Linh

An infographic can also target a specific group such as office workers. In the next example, we see a simple comprehensive visualization of survey results that resonates with the majority of office workers.

Infographic / The Daily Grind by Holly Herman

Great infographics start with a title that sets the topic and core message right on. In fact, a powerful title can determine the success of your graphic. When people process information, they always start with the headline, and once drawn by the topic, they feel curious to learn more.

Exactly the case with this visualization of the 8 things that can make your home office work easier. The title is catchy and instantly explains the topic: How to keep working from home step by step. It sets the issue first “to keep” and instantly claims to have a solution, which compels the audience to keep reading.

How to keep working from home – Infographic by Juliana Bandeira

In the next example, there are two headlines. “Missions to Mars” gives the topic and is followed by the more powerful “How many man-made objects have been sent to the Red Planet and how many actually arrived?” This instantly draws attention to the graphic that reveals very little few dots on the planet Mars.

Missions to Mars by Paul Button

2.3. Simplicity

Sometimes you really need to explain a very complex concept through an infographic. However, making your audience work hard to understand your presentation will defeat the whole point of making the infographic in the first place. If you keep way too many elements and make your design busy, this will distract the viewer from the main point. Consider making your infographic presentation longer if you need to include more data, but make sure to use simpler sections.

Tip: Use a lot of white space. Let your sections and important areas breathe. A busy infographic can be very overwhelming and hard to read.

In the example, the graphic visualizes the path of the pandemic including infections and symptoms, and how they change over time. It’s a complicated topic with lots of data and statistics that will take time to analyze and read. However,  the overall infographic has simplified the concept in different sections with high-contrast colors and accents to make it easier to scan and understand even at the first glance.

Path to Pandemic / BBC Science Focus by James Round

To go a bit further, let’s have a look at an infographic that is practically impossible to make look any simpler. Yet, the designer has still managed to structure the complex data in a comprehensive way.  The graphic shows historical milestones in space exploration. Furthermore, it also includes future space missions and upcoming astronomical phenomena in and around our solar system. It’s extraordinary to visualize pages and pages worthy of rich data in one graphic.

Bureau Oberhaeuser Calendar 2020

2.4. Storytelling

In a way, an infographic tells a story. Therefore, a great infographic will tell a great story and do it clear and accurate. Since this is your story, you have full control over how it flows and the tools you use. You can create flows with white space, text hierarchy, color contrast, and charts.

Below, the UNHCR tells the story of five years of life and conflicts in Sudan. The infographic shows the numbers behind one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world.

South Sudan – UNHCR by Bianco Tangerine

Another way to tell a story is to reveal important data, steps, or tips. The following example dedicated to starting a successful podcast tells the story of the state of podcasting, what you need to start your own, and what technology you will use.

Podcast related infographic design by Lesia Artymovych

3. Types of Infographics

Infographics can be very diverse but there are a few main categories they can be listed in. There is one type we will mention outside of that list, and that is the Informational Infographic. What makes it different is that it focuses on the text and only enhances it with visual elements and colors. Informational infographics take more time to read and understand so they aren’t entirely a visual representation of data.

Informational Infographic Example (Holistic Therapies by Bárbara Americano)

3.1. Visual Infographics

On the contrary, visual infographics cut the text-based elements in favor of visuals. They let the images tell the story and are ideal for presentations, reports, and educational purposes.

Visual Infographic Example (Florida Wildlife Infographics by Yuliya Shumilina)

3.2. Timeline Infographics

This is a very great way to depict data in chronological order, to follow a trend through a period of time, or to show the evolution of a concept.  They are very pleasant and easy to read and have great use for posters, textbooks, and presentations.

Timeline Infographic Example (Typewriter by Trey Thompson)

3.3. Visual Resumes

This type of infographic has a specific purpose to instantly build a great first impression through a striking resume. The infographic CVs is ideal for illustrators, designers, marketers, and developers. However, this doesn’t narrow it down to just the creative industries. You need to make a memorable CV when you apply for a job no matter the field. So, why not take advantage and impress your future employer with an easy-to-scan and comprehend resume that will stand up from the pile of traditional resumes.

Infographic CV Example (Pinda’s Resume by Penellopy L. Sousa)

3.4. List Infographics

List-based infographics are most commonly used to sort heavy data and order it into a list. Such presentations are a great option when you need to list a series of steps to win an argument or to present claims.

List-Based Infographics Example (Amazon product listing by Lutfun Haque)

3.5. Comparison Infographics

This type, as the name suggests, is a format where you can put two concepts against each other. It’s ideal to compare ideas, point out their differences, or even prove the superiority of one of those ideas.

Comparison Infographics Example (Illustrator Vs Photoshop by M.A.Kather)

3.6. Statistic Infographics

This format is widely known as its own category: data visualization. It serves to illustrate very complex and heavy data via graphics, charts, images, and schematics in order to make it visual and comprehensive.

Statistic Infographics Example (Plastic Waste Pollution by Jamie Kettle)

3.7. Process Infographics

This format is ideal to show the flow of a process no matter how complex. The process infographics explain how certain concepts work step by step.

Process Infographics (How-To: Holiday Cocktails)

3.8. Map Infographics

The point of map infographics is to show information based on location. Topics are usually statistics that incorporate areas. It can show the development of a concept in certain countries, cities, or specific places.

Map Infographics Example (Berlin Breakfast Map by Elena Resko)

4. The Visual Elements Of Infographics

Although there are many formats of infographics, colors, fonts and icons are usually what they all have in common. In fact, these elements are the key to make a high-quality visual representation of your concept and convey your message in the best way possible.

4.1. Colors

Just like in everything related to design, colors are the most important element that can make or break your infographic . The right colors can create contrast, atmosphere, and emotions, and influence your viewers to be mesmerized by your work and wish to stay and examine it in detail.

Colors are also powerful symbols and carry strong associations with concepts. Such concepts can be forces (blue for water, green for land), political powers (red for Republicans, blue for Democrats, green for green parties), brand colors, or anything that has a pre-fixed color. With this in mind, it wouldn’t be wise to change or switch such colors and cause confusion.

In terms of creating contrast and knowing how to combine colors perfectly , you could check out our guide to color theory for non-designers .

Balanced Colors in Infographics (IoT Device & Cloud Computing by Anjum Alam)

Important things to consider when you choose colors for your infographics:

• Highlights: Use high contrast colors to highlight or obscure data based on its importance.
• Contrast: When comparing two concepts, you can create contrast by choosing complementary colors.
• Consistency: Be consistent with colors from start to finish and stick to one palette only.
• Meaning: Consider color associations and symbolism.
• Simple Palette: Avoid using more than 5 colors in one infographic. If you need more diversity, you could use different tints or shades of one color instead.

Aside from knowing how to combine colors, it’s also important to know how to combine fonts. This means considering the best practices, which fonts are legible, how to create emphasis through text hierarchy, and more.

Do’s and Don’ts in Design – Infographics by Digital Herd Agency

Important things to consider when you choose fonts for your infographics:

• Legibility: Choose fonts that are easy to read even in big paragraphs in smaller sizes. Avoid display fonts and focus on simple, minimalistic ones.
• No more than two fonts: If you use a lot of different fonts and typefaces this can ruin the harmony of your infographic and aggravate its readability.
• Same Typeface Combinations: You can combine fonts from the same typeface but avoid combining fonts from different families with similar characteristics.
• Serif and Sans Serif: This is the classic combination that works best with serifs for headlines and highest hierarchy texts and sans-serifs for the body text.
• Text Hierarchy: Especially when you use the same font family for the entire infographic, you can create a hierarchy based on font size and weights.
• Mood: Consider what fonts look elegant, romantic, dramatic, or professional, and use them to your advantage to help you communicate the exact tone and mood you intend.

In the meantime, you could also check out our hand-picked collection of 20 free fonts you can add to your fonts library.

Most infographics use icons to organize the information into sections and specific areas or just to indicate concepts. In fact, just a single icon can easily explain an entire paragraph of text.

Infographic by Aimi Humayra Ahmad Suhaime

Important things to consider when you choose icons for your infographics:

• Replacement: During your infographic design process, see if you can replace items or section titles with icons. If you want to indicate different activities during a workday in the office, title each with an icon.
• Social Media Icons: Everybody knows what the icons for Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter look like so it’s safe to use them instead of writing the name of each platform. This also goes for popular brands.
• Clarity: It’s very subjective to point out what icons are designed well and what isn’t, but always go for icons that clearly and unmistakably visualize the concept you want. Most commonly, the simplest universal icons are much more readable and clear than detailed ones.
• Matching: same as colors and fonts, icons need to be consistent as well. Choose icons from the same bundle based on the same style, colors, and level of simplicity.

There are many sources that offer free icon packs to help you out with your infographics. You could check our picks for the best free icon packs that you can download and use right away .

5. Tips on How To Make An Engaging Infographic

If you’re reading this article, you probably wish to make your own infographic for your next presentation. Of course, making an effective infographic that engages and drives results takes time and practice. However, there are a few tips that can definitely help you go in the right direction. So let’s see what we have.

The first thing you do is decide what tools to use. In case you don’t have an in-house designing team or aren’t a designer yourself, you will look for dedicated software.

In the meantime, if you already use software such as Adobe Illustrator , here’s how to create a simple infographic in less than 5 minutes . If you use Google Slides, Powerpoint, Photoshop, and other popular software for your design, you can also take advantage of this selection of infographic templates that you can customize to fit your project .

An easy-to-use tool that offers a rich template library with the option to search by category. It comes with a Free and Pro account.

Creately comes pre-packed with core support for 50+ diagram types, 1000’s professionally designed shape libraries, and templates. Offers Free, Personal, Team, and Enterprise plans.

A perfect tool for visualizing numbers and data that also offers SQL connectors, data analytics, and engagement analytics. It has Free and Paid plans.

You can create an infographic from scratch or choose to work with a template. The tool offers step-by-step tutorials and comes with Free and Paid options.

A versatile design tool developed specifically for marketers to create presentations and infographics. It also offers to create interactive infographics and popups.

This tool is a video creator that will help you make powerful infographic videos. It offers infographic video templates to work with and also has Free and Paid plans.

5.2. Inspiration

Whether you’ll be using infographics software or not, you will always benefit from searching for inspiration from existing beautifully crafted infographics. Even if you don’t have a specific concept in mind, existing examples will help you build an idea.

You could check our hand-picked collection of engaging infographic examples that we made specifically for inspiration. Additionally, we also featured a gallery of 12 animated video infographics .

There are also websites such as Cool Infographics and Daily Infographics .

The most successful infographics are the most helpful ones. When you select a topic, be as specific as possible and try to offer something that your audience will hardly find anywhere else. Although your concept might center around a popular topic, try to narrow it down or something niche.

For example, you wish to make infographics about color combinations. Sure, there are plenty of those going around. However, how many color combination infographics focus on specific wedding theme pallets. These would be incredibly helpful for designers or people who have a Victorian, Gothic, or Hawaiian-themed wedding and still haven’t selected their colors. Or if you wish to educate children with fun facts, why not make an infographic about fruits, vegetables, and nuts that aren’t actually fruits, vegetables, or nuts.

5.4. Other Tips

With the tools, inspiration, and topic out of the way, let’s get in-depth with more specific tips and advice.

The Biodiversity | Infographic by Mayra Magalhaes

1. Catchy Headline

The best way to complement your topic is to present it in a catchy powerful headline. The title should give an instant clear idea of what the infographic is about and win your viewers’ curiosity. “How to write an effective college essay”, and “How to get your chainsaw cutting fast” are descriptive enough, and not only do they set the exact topic, but offer a solution.

2. Minumum Text

If you can present it in visuals, always choose that option. If a graphic feels text-heavy, this means the images don’t balance the infographic enough. The text should complement the images and reinforce them. After all, it is possible for an infographic to lack text, but not the other way around.

3. Readability

In many cases, your infographic will be downsized and this might lose the readability of your icons, images, and text. When you create infographics, check how their legibility in smaller sizes.

Sometimes you need to include a lot of facts, steps, and data. However, in many cases, a very long infographic is a deal-breaker for the viewer. Ideally, 8 000 pixels in length is more than enough for a great informative detailed graphic.

Intuitive cognitive visual flow is everything. It leads the viewer’s gaze through the story from beginning to end, from one phase to another. If the striking headline and beautiful visuals get your viewer’s attention, the flow is what will keep it.

6. One Topic

Same as having a specific topic, you should dedicate your infographic just to that topic and don’t digress with anything else. If you make an infographic about dolphins that isn’t specifically about comparing them with other mammals, you don’t need to include such comparisons.

An infographic presents data and facts, so make sure you use and cite trustworthy sources. There are a lot of questionable sources out there, so in case you aren’t presenting your own research and data, checking and double-checking will prove essential to the trustworthiness of your infographic. Cite your sources with relevant links.

If you create infographics with original research and data that is relevant to your brand, make sure you use your brand logo , colors, and other elements. This will give you and your brand exposure.

9. Promoting

Making the infographic is only half of the work. To help it go viral, however, you need to promote it by reaching out to influential sources and asking to get featured. Always include social media sharing plugins and ask your viewers to share your infographic.

Infographic by The Design Surgery

Final Words

In conclusion, if designed right, infographics are a powerful tool for communication and presentation. They present data in a condensed and highly-visual manner, that is why they have become the standard visual in content across all fields ever since the infographics boom of 2012. truth is, creating an infographic isn’t that hard, but there are some best practices and understanding you should keep in mind when you start making one. We hope we shed some light on the topic and helped you understand the anatomy of infographics. After all, knowing how something works and why, is the key to creation. That’s all for today’s review on what is an infographic.

In the meantime, just right before you start crafting the infographics for your next presentation, you could make a final stop at our hand-picked engaging infographic examples and get the inspiration and ideas you need. Or you can also check some of our other related articles:

• The Best Free Infographic Templates in 2022 for Every Software
• 30+ Free Comparison Infographic Templates: Amazing Free Collection
• The Top Infographic Design Trends

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Al Boicheva

Al is an illustrator at GraphicMama with out-of-the-box thinking and a passion for anything creative. In her free time, you will see her drooling over tattoo art, Manga, and horror movies.

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What is an infographic: types, examples, tips

Infographics have evolved in recent years to become a means of mass communication; they are designed to reach a wider audience by simplifying complex subjects and arranging them in an easy-to-digest format, unlike other types of visualizations.

Because of its fair simplicity and compelling storytelling , it has gained a lot of popularity in recent years, and we can see infographics being shared all over the internet and social media. For example, Canva infographic templates can give you a quick insight into infographics’ looks and structure. But…

What is an infographic?

To better understand the infographic definition, it helps to know where the term came from. Infographic is a portmanteau of ‘information’ and ‘graphic’. An infographic (information graphic) is a visual representation of information that aims to make the data easily understandable at first glance.

An infographic makes minimal use of text and can be a powerful tool for displaying data, explaining concepts, simplifying presentations, mapping relationships, showing trends, and providing essential insights. The use of compelling images on an infographic can make what is an abstract idea that much easier to understand (hence infographics popularity in marketing and instruction). Infographics simplify large data sets providing a high-level view and making them easier to digest at first glance. They help convey data in a compact and shareable form.

Types of infographics

Infographics come in various forms. They are categorized based on purpose, types of objects used, and the flow of information. Note that an infographic will not always strictly fall into a specific category. Actually, most infographics will have elements of multiple types of infographics.

The types of infographics that will be most appropriate in a given situation will depend on the objective of the data visualization. Choose the type of infographic that avoids ambiguity and best helps the reader extract actionable information and valuable insights.

Are you trying to show the best and worst values in a data set? Is the goal to demonstrate changes and trends over time? Are you breaking down the subject item to illustrate its various components? Do you want to see the distribution of data? Are you keen on shedding light on the relationship between various values?

Your audience matters too. For example, the suitability of a type of infographic can vary depending on whether the graphic is being presented to the company’s board members or its middle-level managers. Board members will probably only want to see the main highlights and not go into too much technical detail. Ergo, you may want to go with a simple infographic that doesn’t come across as crowded.

We look at the most widely used types of infographics and share examples of each.

Informational infographic

The informational infographic is distinguished by its above-average use of text when compared to other types of infographics. The graphic may be enhanced by icons, shapes, colors , and other visual elements but overall, the emphasis is on the words.

Timeline infographic

Timeline infographic depicts events or actions in chronological order. They are often used to demonstrate a product’s development, a historical trend, or an idea’s evolution. Timeline infographic makes use of icons, images, and graphic elements to put the point across. The timeline’s format may be vertical, horizontal, or winding. Vertical and winding timeline infographics are usually easier to read. A horizontal timeline infographic works best in posters, presentations, and environments where space is not a constraint.

Pie charts infographic

A pie chart infographic is one where the focus object is a pie chart. Whereas a pie chart infographic is technically a subset of a chart infographic, we assign it a distinct category given its widespread use. Pie charts are great for showing an item’s different components or how one value compares to several other values.

How to infographic

How to infographic describes the steps involved in achieving a certain outcome. Examples of outcomes whose process could be portrayed using a how-to infographic include a product’s manufacture, an ISO certification, a professional qualification, or a medical procedure. The definition of this type of infographic inherently implies that each step is usually a logical consequence of the preceding ones.

Process infographic

Process infographic is similar to a how-to infographic. The key distinction is that a process infographic depicts decision-making processes. Process infographics are also referred to as decision trees or flow charts. Each step is linked to the next with lines and directional arrows. Examples of situations where a process infographic may be applied include personality type determination, assembly line manufacturing, software programming, project planning, and process audit.

Comparison Infographic

A comparison infographic examines the similarities and differences between two or more products, locations, events, actions, ideas, or individuals. Examples of situations where this type of infographic may work include a comparison of Managers vs. Leaders, Insourcing vs. Outsourcing, or Past Strategy vs. Present Strategy. The comparison infographic creates contrast and helps identify the pros and cons of one item in the context of an alternative. The graphic will usually be split into two or more sections depending on the number of items being compared.

Number Infographic

A number infographic is recognizable by the emphasis on numbers. Perhaps you want to show the various ways food is lost or wasted, how war has impacted a given country, or the vital numbers when applying for a mortgage. These examples and more can be well portrayed by a number of infographics.

Resume Infographic

The resume infographic depicts the work experience, professional qualifications, and other credentials of an individual in a visual format. Most job ads will attract scores of applications so a resume infographic is a creative way to set oneself apart from other applicants. Whereas the resume infographic is often prepared as a summary accompanying a standard resume, it can stand on its own especially where the employer insists on a short CV. Job applications are sensitive so be certain that the infographic has a level of professionalism commensurate with the job applied for.

Visual Elements of Infographic

Whereas there are different types of infographics, certain elements are key to making a visual representation of data qualify as an infographic. Virtually all infographics will make use of each of these to some degree.

Infographic Colors

Colors are perhaps the most eye-catching aspect of an infographic so we’ll spend the most time addressing this topic. The color scheme you choose can make or break both your bathroom decor and infographic. Colors can either highlight or obscure information. There are many factors to consider and their importance will vary depending on the nature of the graphic.

For instance, if you are making an infographic comparing America’s major political formations, using red for Republicans and blue for Democrats in line with the convention would go a long way in making the graphic easy to understand.

Another important aspect of infographic color choice is differentiation. When comparing items, use colors that show a stark contrast between the two. Black and gray, for instance, would be poor choices in demonstrating how different the two types of cars are.

Take text color into consideration when choosing infographic colors. White text on a yellow background is a strenuous read. Choose colors in line with the background color of the page where the infographic will be posted. While there is nothing inherently wrong with placing an infographic with a white background on a website with a white background, it can make it harder for readers to see where the infographic begins.

If the infographic touches on a brand, use the official brand colors as much as possible for consistency. Some colors evoke certain emotions and there is no harm in taking advantage of their existing connotation. Blue and red colors are thought to show stability and trust. That’s why the bulk of financial services brands (and hence their infographics) use these colors. Green goes well with environmental issues.

Finally, keep things consistent. This does not only apply to colors but to other elements as well. If you used a certain color scheme at the beginning of a series of infographics, you may want to stick to it in subsequent infographics on the same topic. That would make it easier for a reader to follow the story over time. Consistency applies within the infographic too. Don’t show an infographic element in one color at the start only to shift to a different color further down within the same graphic.

Infographic fonts

The number of fonts has increased dramatically in recent years. There are now far more infographic font options than the usual Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, and Comic Sans. Fonts can be classified in several ways but many experts place them in four broad groupings: Serif, Sans-Serif, Script, and Decorative.

Serif fonts (e.g. Merriweather and Times New Roman) have small lines attached at the end of each letter and are considered more formal. Sans-Serif literally means ‘without serif’ and these fonts (e.g. Arial, Helvetica, and Lato) do not have small lines. They are more streamlined and modern-looking than Serif fonts. Script fonts have a handwriting feel and are seen as fun, casual, or elegant. Decorative fonts have a novelty to them (e.g. the snowcapped fonts on Christmas graphics) and should be used sparingly and for specific subjects.

Just like colors, not all font types will work with your infographic. As a general rule, the infographic fonts you should use depend on the infographic’s overall theme. Comic Sans, for example, will not be ideal for the majority of business infographics. The infographic fonts you choose will give readers the first impression of the content and hint at how they should gauge the rest of the infographic. Your font could be saying “tropical vacation” when it should be saying “Lower Manhattan office”.

If you have already created an infographic on the same subject before, you would probably want to stick to the same theme. Whether it’s a brand and has a designated font, go with that.

The type of font is not the only decision you’ll make on fonts. You’ll also want to choose whether to go with light, bold, or italic versions of the font. Bold fonts are great for headlines and sections of the infographic you would want to draw the most attention to. Headers and sub-headers should have a larger font than the rest of the infographic.

Remember that the inclusion of text in your infographic means you are keen on communicating an important message. The readability of the font is, therefore, a vital quality. Pay attention to how the text will be seen in different settings. Something visible on a laptop may be difficult to decipher on a smartphone.

Don’t overdo it. The goal of the font is not to excessively dazzle the reader. Ultimately, you want a font that helps explain the content of the infographic subtly and not one that becomes the subject itself. Infographic fonts should maintain a healthy balance between providing emphasis and remaining somewhat understated.

Infographic icons

Choosing the right infographic icons can make the difference between a verbose and winding visual, and an engaging and impactful one. Icons are sometimes taken for granted but can actually come in handy when packing plenty of information in small spaces. A single icon can replace a paragraph of explanations.

Some helpful tips come in handy when choosing the infographic icons to use. Look for items that can be replaced with an icon. Is your infographic about different types of fruits? Replace each fruit name with its respective icon. Want to show a certain type of activity such as running or walking? There are icons for that too.

Use icons instead of legends to label a pie chart or the columns of a bar chart. For example, if you are comparing the attributes of different social media platforms, you can use the icons of each network instead.

Correct icon use is distinct by the ability of the graphic designer to need little to no words to explain what the object represents. There is a wide range of infographic icons one can choose from that cover nearly any subject.

If you are using an icon to represent the characteristics of a large population, setting each icon to represent 20,000 people may make it easier to read than having each icon depict 5,000 people. Even when infographic icons must be labeled, descriptions shouldn’t be wordy.

Remember to match your choice of icons to the infographic’s overall color and font themes. Like fonts, infographic icons shouldn’t be a distraction. They are a means of further explaining the infographic’s core message.

Infographic Images

Some of the basic rules around the use of icons apply to infographic images too. Images shouldn’t ‘take over’ the infographic else you risk reducing the graphic into a patchwork of images with a smattering of text. Images can replace what would otherwise have been acres of explanations. Make sure the colors on the image are consistent with the infographic’s color theme.

There are other additional considerations though when choosing infographic images. For starters, avoid clichés (also known as stock photos ). Do not use images that have likely been seen by readers multiple times already on other infographics or websites. Even if the infographic explores an original idea, the presence of such images dilutes its impact and makes an otherwise exciting message seem boring and tired.

Use animals and people to make the infographic more specific and personal. Go out of your way to ascertain that the infographic images are up-to-date and relevant. Do not use an image of a 1970s white-collar worker on an infographic explaining the work environment in today’s office.

Infographic tools

It takes more than fancy images and catchy colors to make an effective infographic. The design element is crucial. There is a wide range of infographic tools available online. We look at the major ones.

Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux Price: 100% free

Add to that export in PNG and SVG, support of CSS & XAML code and you’ll get a powerful vector editing tool without having to employ a bunch of crutches to make .sketch files work on Windows. A portable version comes as a bonus.

• First fully-featured .sketch editor for Windows
• Constant updates
• Portable version
• Active development & support

Price: Free (Paid plans start at $12/mo)

Piktochart has hundreds of templates to choose from though this does not prevent you from creating your own from scratch. New templates are added weekly. Infographic objects at your disposal include maps, charts, photos, and icons. Import your data to Piktochart from Microsoft Excel, Google Spreadsheet, or SurveyMonkey. The completed infographic can be embedded on a website or downloaded and shared in PDF, PNG, or JPEG format.

Price: Free (Paid plan starts at $12.99 per user/mo)

Canva is a popular online design tool and a free infographic maker that has a vast inventory of templates. Canva has a user-friendly interface and is relatively easy to use even for persons without a tech or design background. Infographic elements such as icons, maps, and images, can be dragged and dropped into position. Leverage your creativity by customizing the infographic using the hundreds of thousands of available images and numerous layout options.

Price: Free (Premium plan starts at $19/mo)

While most other infographic tools can be used on a wide range of design projects including reports and slideshows, Venngage is focused on infographics . Through a couple of easy-to-follow steps, your infographic can be ready for distribution in a short time. Incorporate icons, maps, and charts to create an impressive design, or choose from a variety of infographic templates. Venngage has an advanced design option for greater control of the objects and graphics. The infographic can be shared on social media, embedded on the site, or downloaded as a PDF or image file.

Price: Free (Paid plan starts at $29/mo)

If you are looking to build an interactive infographic that features significant amounts of animation, Visme should be up there among your most preferred free animation software . Visme’s intuitive built-in animations can be activated when readers open a link to the graphic or scroll down the web page. You can lock the infographic with a password if you only want a limited audience to view it. This can come in handy when working on the infographic as a team and only wanting to share it publicly when the final copy is agreed upon.

Price: Free (Paid plan starts at $2/mo)

Easelly features a simple design layout and a range of infographic elements such as shapes, charts, and backgrounds. The free templates number in their thousands which is significantly higher than those available on many other infographic tools. As the name implies, Easelly is easy to use. It’s ideal for students, educators, and business executives who intend to convey a concept, plan, or product. The final infographic can be downloaded in PDF or image format.

Wrapping up

Infographics have become a powerful tool for analyzing large data sets and explaining information. In times past, creating an infographic was the preserve of a select few due to the high cost of software (such as Adobe Photoshop) and the complexity of the design process. With numerous low-cost (or free) and easy-to-use online tools now available, Lunacy, for example, doesn’t take as much time and effort to come up with a quality infographic.

Infographic tools are often packed with plenty of templates but that should not prevent you from mixing different infographic elements to create a unique design.

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Blog Infographics

What is an Infographic? Examples, Templates & Design Tips

By Midori Nediger , Oct 12, 2023

Since infographics exploded onto the graphic design scene about 15 years ago, they’ve become a staple for communication in classrooms, in the workplace, and across the web.

But if you’re new to the world of design, the term “infographic” might still be foreign to you.

You might wonder: what are infographics?

Today, I’ll give you a crash course on infographics and infographic design to answer all of your questions and more. Don’t worry if you’re no designer — I’ll also show you how you can easily customize designs with Venngage’s Infographic Maker and easy-to-edit infographic templates .

Your guide to infographics 101:

What is an infographic.

• Why use infographics?

12 infographic examples for different use cases

How do i create an infographic, what is the importance of using visual elements in an infographic, what are the different types of infographics, what makes an infographic design effective, faqs about creating infographics.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary , an infographic (or information graphic) is “a visual representation of information or data”.

But the meaning of an infographic is something much more specific.

An infographic is a collection of imagery, data visualizations like pie charts and bar graphs, and minimal text that gives an easy-to-understand overview of a topic.

As in the example below, infographics use striking, engaging visuals to communicate information quickly and clearly.

Infographics are a valuable tool for visual communication . The most visually unique, creative infographics  are often the most effective because they grab our attention and don’t let go.

But it’s crucial to remember that the visuals in an infographic must do more than excite and engage.

They must help us understand and remember the content of the infographic, as seen in this infographic about employee resignation announcements:

Ready to dive right in and create your first infographic? Check out our ultimate infographic design guide for everything you need to get started.

Why should you use infographics?

Infographics are great for making complex information easy to digest. They can be helpful anytime you want to:

• Provide a quick overview of a topic
• Explain a complex process
• Display research findings or survey data
• Summarize a long blog post or report
• Compare and contrast multiple options
• Raise awareness about an issue or cause

When you need to give someone a really quick rundown on something that can be hard to explain in words alone, an infographic is a good way to go.

Ever noticed infographics can be useful in pretty much any industry? It’s true! They can explain tough topics, show off cool data or just grab your attention, depending on what you’re after.

Here are just some of its use cases:

• Infographics for marketing
• Infographics for consulting and freelancing
• Infographics for small businesses and entrepreneurs
• Infographics for government
• Infographics for nonprofits
• Infographics for education

Marketing infographics

What are infographics used for in marketing?

Marketers use infographics  to build brand awareness and boost engagement about topics important to the company, such as this infographic on diversity and inclusion:

Marketers can use infographics to:

• Showcase your business’s achievements on a landing page or downloadable one-pager
• Send a visually striking newsletter to deliver news, showcase a new product or service or demonstrate thought leadership
• Improve their online courses or course handouts
• Drive interest on social media . Share snippets on Instagram or the full infographic on Pinterest.
• Make a roundup infographic. Collect quotes from influencers, compile them into an infographic and write a blog post on that. Here’s an example: 61 Women In Tech Speak Up [Infographic]
• Summarize key points in a white paper or ebook .

Informational infographic examples, like this one about the effect of excess sodium, are great tools for educating a variety of audiences.

Consulting and freelancer infographics

Consultants use timeline infographics to visualize project timelines and to simplify new or industry-specific topics to their clients:

Consultants use infographics to:

• Present data in a fresh way in client presentations
• Strengthen your argument and visualize timelines in client proposals
• Deliver progress reports to clients. Include an infographic in your report to visualize project timelines or progress “by the numbers”

Small business and entrepreneurship infographic examples

Small businesses and entrepreneurs use infographics to reach new audiences and increase brand awareness :

This brand style guide cheat sheet is a great infographic example for small businesses. It’s visual and compact, which helps readers absorb the information faster.

Lists are a common type of document that all businesses have. But long lists can get tedious to read. It’s unlikely that readers will even remember the items on the list.

Businesses can use infographics to visualize lists for better learning retention, like this colorful infographic example below.

Or this list infographic which discusses three different change styles:

A business may also want to visualize processes and activities. This infographic example on supply chain analysis could easily have been a boring document. Instead, the topic is covered more thoroughly and succinctly in an infographic:

Small businesses and entrepreneurs can use infographics to:

• Create their brand style guide
• Highlight their offerings and past successes in flyers and  brochures
• Promote their business or demonstrate thought leadership on social media
• Better showcase products/services and past successes on their website’s  sales page  or in a downloadable one-pager
• Showcase your company’s history on their website’s about page
• Send creative newsletters
• Create more interesting webinars

Government infographics

What are infographics used for in the governmental sector? Governments use infographics to share statistics and census data, like in this visual from the Government of Canada :

Government can also use infographics to spread useful healthcare information , such as vaccine infographics which promote accurate vaccine information and increase vaccination rates. Here’s an example:

Nonprofit infographics

Nonprofits use infographics to promote events and raise awareness for their causes or to showcase their successful fundraising efforts:

Nonprofits use infographics to:

• Make data and information about a given cause easy to understand. This can be applied to a newsletter , social media campaign , donation page , poster, and more.
• Plan a campaign strategy
• Show the impact of a fundraiser that can be sent to donors in an email
• Highlight results in an annual report
• Showcase successes in an impact report or case study
• Visualize information in crisis communications

Education infographics

Educators and trainers use infographics  to make content more memorable for students and employees:

Need to explain a complex process? Our  process infographics  can help communicate cumbersome processes in a visual way.

Infographics can be useful whenever you need to communicate information quickly, or any time you want to make an impact with your data or your message.

If I’ve convinced you that infographics are a tool you should be using, you’re probably wondering how you can create your own infographic.

Our step-by-step guide on how to create an infographic  is a great resource to design an infographic.

No matter how excited you are to get started making your very first infographic, you shouldn’t jump into the design process without a game plan.

Instead, start by creating an infographic outline.

• Organize your information with an infographic outline
• Pick an infographic template
• Customize your infographic

1. Organize your information with an infographic outline

The process of creating an outline will help you organize your thoughts and ensure that your content will work in an infographic.

Create an infographic outline from existing content using these 4 steps:

• Determine the key takeaways of your content
• Determine the title, headers, subheaders, and facts
• Consider the length of paragraphs and points
• Include notes for the designer

Starting with an outline in this format will ensure that the rest of the design process goes smoothly.

For a more detailed run-down of this process, check out our guide on how to create an infographic outline .

2. Pick an infographic template

Once you’ve got an outline, you’re ready to pick an infographic template .

Pre-made infographic templates (like the one below) can give you the design inspiration you need to get your infographic rolling. Even just using them as a jumping-off point can be helpful.

There’s a lot to consider when picking an infographic template, including the colors, fonts, length, size, and style of each template, and how well each of those factors aligns with your content.

But most importantly, you need to pick the right type of infographic template for your content.

3. Customize your infographic

Once you’ve chosen an infographic template, you can start customizing it to your needs. This infographic can be adapted for other types of lists with the Venngage editor.

Here are a few ways to adapt the infographic examples in this post:

• Change the background and text colors
• Adjust the text to suit your message
• Add or swap out icons that are relevant to your story
• Add your brand logo in the footer
• Increase or decrease the size of the list

Want more information about creating infographics? This video guide will show you how you can make an infographic in just 5 steps:

The use of visual elements in an infographic can help enhance the overall effectiveness of the communication. Here are some key points highlighting the importance of using visual elements in an infographic:

• Enhanced comprehension: Visual elements, such as graphs, charts and illustrations can simplify complex information, making it easier for the audience to understand the data presented.
• Improved retention: Human beings tend to remember visual information more effectively than text alone. By incorporating visual elements, infographics can improve the retention of information, ensuring that the key points are more likely to be remembered by the audience.
• Increased engagement: Visual elements in infographics make the content more engaging and appealing. People are naturally drawn to visuals, and the use of color, images and graphics can capture the audience’s attention, encouraging them to spend more time interacting with the information.
• Facilitated comparison: Infographics often involve the presentation of data sets, comparisons or contrasts. Visual elements can effectively facilitate such comparisons, enabling the audience to discern patterns, trends and differences more easily.
• Universal understanding: Visual elements can transcend language barriers, making infographics a powerful tool for communicating with diverse audiences across different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• Aesthetic appeal: Infographics that are well-designed and visually appealing are more likely to be shared and distributed widely, especially in the context of social media and online platforms. Aesthetically pleasing visual elements can attract more attention and help the infographic reach a broader audience.
• Storytelling: Visual elements can contribute to the storytelling aspect of an infographic, allowing for the creation of a narrative that flows logically and is visually engaging. By combining text and visuals, infographics can effectively communicate a compelling story or message.

In summary, the use of visual elements in infographics is critical for conveying complex information in a more accessible and engaging manner, enhancing comprehension, improving retention, and increasing overall audience engagement and appeal.

At Venngage, our library of infographic templates is sorted into 9 different categories:

• Statistical infographics
• Informational infographics
• Timeline infographics
• Process infographics
• Geographic infographics
• Comparison infographics
• Hierarchical infographics
• List infographics
• Resume infographics

This video summarizes these 9 types of infographics and when to use them:

Each type of infographic is tailored to visualize a different type of content .

Informational infographics , for example, are typically more text-heavy than the other types of infographics.

Like this example from Course Hero below, they work best as summative, standalone pieces that provide a high-level explanation of a topic.

There are also informational infographics that explain something niche, but very simply. These are handy to have as visual references for topics that are new and unfamiliar.

TalentLyft’s infographic on recruitment metrics is a great example – a short and sweet summary of the six key recruitment metrics hiring managers should understand and track.

Statistical infographics , on the other hand, are more focused on numbers and data visualizations, charts, and data, for example:

They tend to contain much less text than informational infographics and have less of a narrative flow.

Instead, they make a statement with big numbers and standalone facts, like this infographic from the Internet of Things .

Similarly, this sample infographic from Podia on the “ State of the Side Hustle ” uses numbers and stylization to make its most important points prominent with sparse supporting text.

Choosing the right type of template for your content is one of the keys to a successful infographic.

For a full description of each type of infographic, and when to use them, check out this guide to the 9 types of infographic templates .

When it comes to designing an effective infographic, it’s important to recognize that our brain seeks patterns in visual information to help us make sense of the world.

We can use this idea to structure our information visually and create patterns that will enhance the message that we’re trying to communicate.

Let’s run through some infographic design best practices to help you create infographics that are as effective as they are beautiful.

Also, check out our post on 7 ways to customize your infographic template for more easy hacks on how to make your design pop.

Use lines, borders, and shapes to group related information

Even something as simple as the position and grouping of elements on a page can influence the way our readers understand our graphics.

If we use basic design elements like borders, lines, circles, and squares to visually organize our content, our readers will find it easier to interpret that content.

For example, we can enclose related elements within an outline or a shape. Most infographics, like the sample below, use this tactic to break up the design into multiple sections, making the graphic easier to scan.

Alternatively, when the structure of the information is the main focus of the infographic (like in an organizational chart or a flow chart ) it can be helpful to explicitly connect related elements with lines. Like in this marketing flow chart infographic:

Click the template above to make an organizational chart . Edit the template to your liking — no design experience needed.

Want more tips on organizing your information in an infographic? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to summarize information and present it visually .

Use contrasting colors to guide your readers’ attention

Another major design element to think about is color. We’re naturally inclined to use color to make infographics look pretty, but color can also be used as a powerful communication tool .

Just like lines and borders, colors can be used to indicate information groupings, as seen in the business strategy infographic example below:

But more importantly, we can use color to draw attention to particular pieces of information and push supporting information into the background.

Pick one color that contrasts with all of the other colors in the graphic, and use it to make the most important information stand out.

Take the infographic below, for example. The bright teal icons contrast with the plain white background to make the icons (the most important visual aspect of the graphic) stand out.

This strategy also happens to be highly trendy. Pops of color are one of the biggest graphic design trends of 2022 .

Need some infographic color scheme inspiration? Check out our guide on how to pick colors for infographics .

Create a text hierarchy with three different font styles

Fonts are one of the first things people notice when they first look at an infographic. If chosen poorly, fonts can ruin an otherwise great infographic.

Our roundup of popular font types  will steer you on the right path.

The key to using fonts correctly in infographics is to create a clear text hierarchy with three different font styles–one for the main heading, one for the section headings, and one for the body text.

The main header font should be the biggest and can be the most stylized. Think of it as the way to set the mood of your infographic.

The font for the section headers should be a bit smaller and less stylized, but it should still stand out on the page.

Finally, the font for the body text should be the smallest, and not stylized at all. It needs to be as easy to read as possible.

Not sure what a readable font looks like? Here’s a quick reference guide to fonts that are great for body text:

For more infographic font tips and best practices, check out our guide all about choosing infographic fonts .

Use images, icons, and illustrations to make key takeaways memorable

Last but certainly not least, make sure that the focus of your infographic is on visuals like images, symbols , icons, illustrations , and data visualizations like charts and graphs.

Visuals are crucial for making your information engaging and memorable. The best infographics have an equal balance of text and visuals.

The easiest way to make sure you have enough visuals in your graphic is to add an icon to represent each header, as seen in the example below:

Or even better, create visual examples of each main point in the infographic, as seen in this sample infographic from Elle & Company :

It’s important to have fun with your design, too. It doesn’t need to be strictly business-y and serious.

Infographics are supposed to be engaging and memorable, and illustrations are great story-telling devices.

Making a data-heavy infographic and need help visualizing your data? Check out our guides on designing effective charts and choosing the best charts for your infographic .

What does infographic mean?

The word “infographic” is a combination of two words (you guessed it!): “information” and “graphic”.

Simply put, an infographic is a graphic that presents information and/or data — most importantly, in an easy-to-understand way.

What is an infographic example?

An infographic example is a visual representation of information. Infographics examples include a variety of elements, such as images, icons, text, charts, and diagrams to convey messages at a glance.

What is the purpose of an infographic?

The purpose of an infographic is to visually present information and data in a clear and engaging manner, making complex concepts more understandable.

Are infographics limited to one page?

Infographics are not limited to one page and can vary in length. That said, they are often designed to be concise and easily digestible, frequently fitting on a single page for optimal accessibility.

What are infographics used for?

An infographic has numerous uses in different industries. Infographics can be used to convey complicated data in a simple visual format. They are also visual tools to tell stories.

Visual information graphics help people understand information quickly and more accurately.

Infographics can also be used to show changes or comparisons in data, time, and place, as well as statistics, maps, and hierarchies.

What are the five types of infographics?

We’ve mentioned the nine major infographic categories, among which these are the most common types of infographics are:

• Statistical
• Informational

Different types of infographics require specific elements. Timeline infographics need to include the date and time stamps. A comparison infographic usually includes columns and rows.

The infographic examples in this post will help you understand what type you need to use for your message so you can make the right choice.

Do you need quantitative data to make an infographic?

Simple answer: No! You don’t need quantitative data (numbers) to create an infographic. Infographics are meant to convey information in an easy-to-understand way, and that applies whether the information you have on hand is purely qualitative:

Or quantitative:

Or a combination of both, like in this infographic example:

Conclusion : Create an infographic to make the most out of your knowledge and data

The best infographics use a combination of text, images, and data to inform and engage.

If you’re ready to create infographics that strike the perfect balance between fun and educational, make sure you follow these infographic design best practices:

• Use lines, borders, and shapes to group related information.
• Use one contrasting color to draw attention to key information.
• Create a text hierarchy with three different font styles.
• Use images, icons , and illustrations to make key takeaways memorable.

For more help getting started on your first infographic, check out this guide: How to make an infographic in 5 steps .

Not a designer? No problem. Create an infographic today using our easy-to-edit templates and simple online editor.

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Infographics

What Is an Infographic? (Examples, Tips, and How to Make One)

If you’ve flipped through a magazine or browsed social media platforms lately, chances are you’ve stumbled upon a slick-looking infographic. 

Whether you’ve seen interactive infographics or static infographics, you probably marveled at this unique graphic design medium and maybe even considered how to make one yourself .

What Is an Infographic and How Do I Make One?

While they come in various shapes and sizes, the best infographics out there have one thing in common: they combine visuals and text to communicate an idea, insight, or information. 

From healthcare to finance, creating infographics makes for a popular visual storytelling medium across industries and platforms.

Educators and students also favor data visualization through infographics because of their versatility inside the classroom. 

This article is packed with everything you need to know about infographic creation — from understanding what makes a good infographic to examples of different infographic types for instant inspiration. 

You’ll also come across editable infographic templates that you can customize and download for work, school, or business. 

If you want to start right away, just create a free Piktochart account and design your infographic easily using our infographic maker . You can start from a template or from scratch, customizing to your brand.

If you are more of a visual learner than a reader, check out the summary video of our ‘what is an infographic’ blog post:

Table of contents :

• What is an infographic?
• What are infographics used for
• What are the different types of infographics?
• What makes a good infographic
• How do I create an infographic?

What Is an Infographic Design?

Infographics (information + graphics) use visual elements and text to highlight key information and ideas as a form of data visualization. 

According to the Dictionary of Media and Communication , an infographic is a graphical representation of concepts, or of patterns in data or information. 

In Infographics: The Power of Visual Storytelling , authors Lankow, Ritchie, and Crooks define an infographic as a medium that uses visual cues to communicate information. “It can be as simple as a road sign of a man with a shovel that lets you know there is construction ahead, or as complex as visual analysis of the global economy,” the authors wrote. 

The widespread use of infographics started around the same time data flooded the web when the internet gained popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

However, the history of infographics goes as far back as cave symbols in 37000 BC.

For example, the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, combined text and visuals in 1858 to convince the British Government to improve army hygiene.

In Notes on Matters Affecting the Health of the British Army, Nightingale created a graph showing that the real enemies of the British army during the Crimean were cholera, typhus, and dysentery. 

More than a century later, healthcare infographics remain a practical and valuable tool to communicate through visual representation and share medical information. 

In a nutshell, the overall goal of infographic creation is to convey complex information through data visualization. 

However, the purpose of designing an infographic can vary from one person to another. 

Whether you’re about to make your first pitch deck template or you’re a budding instruction designer, let’s dive in at the different ways you can use infographics in the next section. 

What Are Infographics Used For?

The versatility of infographics is one key reason why they are commonly used in relaying information.

You can upload a blog post with an infographic, use an infographic snippet on social media, or share it privately via email. 

Best of all, the visual nature of graphics makes it a good entry point in capturing your target audience’s interest. Here are six different ways to use infographics at work, school, or business: 

1. Keep your team on track by visualizing key metrics and data

Data-heavy information can be difficult to grasp for some team members at work. Create and share easy-to-understand visuals with your team through infographics.

Make those numbers and metrics stand out with the right colors, icons, and images. See Beacon Hill Staffing’s infographic on predictive hiring KPIs below. 

Use the Piktochart templates below as a starting point for your data visualization needs as a team manager or leader. Create a free Piktochart account .

2. Simplify communication and clarify messages

Explaining novel concepts can be a challenge. For instance, before the COVID-19 outbreak, the idea of a pandemic was new to the public and seemed far-fetched. 

The good news is that infographics can help simplify and demystify complex ideas. 

For this reason, the World Health Organization (WHO) used infographics to share accurate, up-to-date information about the coronavirus pandemic.

When done correctly, infographics help you understand the main idea presented with just a quick glance. 

As an example, below is a good read for anyone with zero knowledge of the Kaizen approach. 

3. Get complex information across in the classroom

From understanding the impact of climate change to learning new vocabulary, enrich classroom lessons with visual aids. 

In fact, a small survey of undergraduate students revealed that they prefer infographics instead of text-based materials. 

Whether it’s a virtual teaching session or a face-to-face class, using infographics in the classroom offers the following benefits for students: 

• Promotes critical thinking in students.
• Encourages students to take on multiple perspectives.
• Helps students improve their information-gathering chops and sharpen their research skills.
• Improves memory retention.

Meanwhile, infographic activities benefit teachers through the following:

• Save more time with lesson preparation.
• Be more versatile with their teaching methods. 

Adjunct Professor of Education and school counselor Jennifer Davis Bowman recommends three strategies to make the most out of visual aids like infographics in a classroom setting: 

1. Share intent. 

2. Activate discussion.

3. Create visual aids as a class. 

Bonus tip: Use infographics to reteach classroom routines and procedures . 

4. Spread awareness about an issue

With 65 percent of the world’s population as visual learners , visual communication tools like infographics are ideal if you want to spread awareness about an issue. 

Whether you want to educate your coworkers about internet privacy or make more people aware of biodiversity loss, a relevant infographic can have a wider reach.

A well-designed infographic on your website can also help you get more backlinks and website traffic. 

5. Explain procedures 

Explaining a process can be time-consuming and tedious if you rely on blocks of text alone. With infographics, you can add visuals, images, and icons to make learning more memorable and fun for your audience. 

The next time you’re about to make a tutorial or a quick workflow, create an infographic instead of typing away in a Google Doc. 

6. Compare ideas or products

Help your audience make better decisions by using infographics that illustrate the similarities and differences between two opposing concepts. You can compare and contrast products, people, eras, ideas, pets, etc. The possibilities are endless!

A meta-analysis by the Learning Research and Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh found that case comparison activities have better learning outcomes than traditional methods of instruction. 

Whether you’re a marketer who wants to show how your product is better than the competition or an educator teaching the pros and cons of GMOs in class, a good comparison infographic will make your work easier. 

Recommended reading: 18 Awesome Infographic Ideas to Inspire You Plus Templates

What Are the Different Types of Infographics?

Now that you already know how to use infographics, let’s break down each type of infographic ( more info in this article ). You’ll also discover when is the best time to use each infographic type below. 

1. Statistical infographics

Do you want to share the highlights of your startup’s monthly progress report ? Or would you like to focus attention on specific data points in a survey?

Statistical infographics highlight data. This type of infographic features graphs, charts, and data visualization techniques to help the audience make sense of the data presented. 

Use statistical infographics to:

• Share interesting facts and figures.
• Condense lengthy information. 

2. Process infographics 

Choose process infographics if you want to show the data visualizations for different steps in a process.

From sharing family recipes to describing your company’s recruiting p r ocess to candidates, a process graphic helps your audience anticipate what’s next and envision outcomes. 

Use process infographics to: 

• Explain a complex process into simple, easy-to-understand steps.

3. Informational infographics

Informational infographics highlight words and texts instead of figures and numbers. It is more generalized and can contain information about any topic. In this type of infographic, the text shines more than your visuals. 

Use informational infographics to: 

• Explain topics or concepts by pairing words with engaging visuals together.

4. Timeline infographics

Timeline infographics illustrate actions, events, or time-related data in chronological order. You can present information in horizontal, vertical, or winding formats for this type of information. 

Use timeline infographics to:

• Visualize history or show how long something will take. 
• Highlight how a place, event, or concept has changed over time.

5. List infographics

The internet loves listicles! With list infographics, your audience will love you more because the list format grabs their attention quickly and enables them to retain information quickly. Icons and images can also replace bullet points and numbers to make each item or example stand out. 

Use list infographics if you want to:

• Make a basic list pop out and grab your audience’s attention.

6. Comparison infographics 

A comparison infographic compares or contrasts two options, ideas, or concepts. This infographic format helps your audience see the similarities or differences between two or multiple choices. It’s also ideal for “telling the two sides of the story”. 

Comparing two products to show the pros and cons of traditional vs. digital marketing, like in the example below, helps your audience make informed decisions with comparison infographics. 

Use comparison infographics if you want to:

• show differences and similarities.
• highlight how one option is superior/inferior to the other.

7. Infographic resumes 

Also known as a visual resume, infographic resumes are visual CVs that help job seekers stand out from the rest of the pack. An infographic template for a resume presents your impressive skills, employment history, and educational background through eye-catching colors, graphs, icons, and illustrations. The best part about these templates is that you can highlight your work and skills minus the information overload. 

• Grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers and get them to call you back for an interview.

What Makes a Good Infographic?

You know it’s a good graphic when a reader glances at it and can quickly understand the main idea.

Well-designed, good infographics have the following characteristics: 

• Offers clarity.
• It tells a cohesive story.
• Easy to scan and read.
• Well-researched and accurate.
• Visually appealing.

You can take the following steps toward making a good graphic: 

1. Choose images, icons, or illustrations that aid audience comprehension

While words and texts are important in communicating information, make your infographic stand out with the right visuals. Choosing the right visuals in your graphic can help you create accessible, coherent, and compelling content. 

Don’t just add images or icons for the sake of having images in your infographic. Your visuals of choice should reinforce the accompanying texts in your infographic, like in the example below. 

2. Have a clear hierarchy

Next to visuals, you need to pay attention to the visual hierarchy in your infographics. 

Hierarchy is how your text and visuals are structured and prioritized in your infographic. These include headers, subheaders, paragraphs, text descriptions, visuals, and your call-to-action.  

At the most basic level, a clear hierarchy in your infographic guides the viewer as they scan your infographic. It tells them which content is the most relevant and shows the relationships between pieces of content in your infographic.

An infographic without a clear visual hierarchy is filled with clutter leading to reader confusion. 

3. Pick the right color combination

Make your infographics come to life by putting more thought into your colors. 

The right color combination can make or break your infographic. Aside from shapes and lines, colors can set the mood of an infographic and dictate how it will impact your readers. Plus,  research reveals that the human brain uses colors and shapes to “detect and discriminate” objects. 

Pro tip: Use the 60-30-10 rule when planning for your infographic colors: 

• A primary or “root” color will cover 60 percent of your infographic. 
• A secondary color will cover 30 percent of the infographic.
• An accent color will cover the remaining 10 percent of the infographic.

Can you spot the primary, secondary, and accent colors in the infographic below?

Learn more tips in 4 Steps to Choosing Good Color Combinations for Your Infographic .

4. Group related elements and information through lines, borders, colors, and shapes

Like visual hierarchy, grouping related elements together can help you create a good infographic. 

Let’s take a quick look at the Gestalt Principles , a set of principles that describe how the human brain recognizes patterns, simplifies complex images, and groups similar elements when perceiving objects. 

One of these principles is the Law of Common Region . This principle describes how items within a boundary are perceived as a group and assumed to share some common characteristics or functionality. 

A good infographic follows this principle by using shapes, borders, and lines to group elements together. For the infographic example below, the borders, shapes, and lines are used to group infographic elements.

5. Use graphs and charts to communicate data visualization

Another important step for creating a good infographic is to make good use of charts and graphs . Besides being easy on the eyes to read, there’s a shallow learning curve for the audience because they are quite common. 

Some quick tips to remember when using graphs and charts your an infographic: 

• Add short explanations or bullet points that explain your chart or graph. It also makes sense to add additional data that you cannot include in your visual.
• Avoid multiple data points that will be difficult for your audience to interpret. For example, bar charts should have as few bars as possible, and line graphs should have no more than four lines .
• As much as possible, do not use scatter plots and stacked bar charts, particularly if you have a non-scientific audience.
• Use pie charts sparingly because most people are not good at estimating volume or area. The team at Storytelling with Data recommends using a horizontal bar chart , organized from greatest to least (or vice versa) instead of a pie chart.

How Do I Create an Infographic?

You’ve made it this far and seen our top infographic examples. We’re now entering the final stretch of this article! 

In this section, you’ll learn how to make an infographic even if you don’t have a design background. 

1. Identify your target audience

Like all types of content, the first step in creating infographics is to identify and familiarize yourself with your target audience. 

If possible, talk to at least five people who fit the criteria of your target audience persona and explore their pain points, needs, and wants. Go beyond the usual demographic questions such as age, occupation, educational background, and household income. 

Robin Geuens, Piktochart’s resident SEO, also recommends understanding your target audience’s level of knowledge. By doing so, you’ll be able to skip over basic information in your infographic. 

2.  Define your information graphic goals

An infographic all by itself is just a piece of content. Infographic creation without a purpose is a meaningless exercise. When you have a clear infographic purpose, you’ll be able to pick the right type of infographic for the job, saving you time and effort. 

Here are some goals that you can aim for the next time you’re designing an infographic: 

• Report on data.
• Raise awareness.
• Reveal patterns or trends.
• Simplify complex information.
• Highlight a sequence of events.
• Compare two or more ideas or concepts.
• Explain a process and showcase a step-by-step guide.
• Encourage people to buy a product or avail of a service.

3. Gather your information

After you nail down your target audience and infographic purpose, your next step is to gather the “info” (information) part of your infographic. Remember that the data and information you share are the foundation of a compelling and effective infographic. 

Follow these steps to collect relevant and reliable information for your infographic: 

• Consult open-source databases. Go to a local library or browse sites of government agencies. 
• Explore websites that end in .edu, .org, and .gov. These are typically educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. The data presented on these websites are generally credible and authoritative (i.e., census data). 
• Conduct in-person interviews or create a survey. 
• Check for relevance and collect up-to-date information. 
• Understand the intent of your source and find out if it’s an opinion or a fact. 

4. Choose the type of infographic

As mentioned earlier, there are different types of infographics to choose from. Each type has its purpose, format, and way of displaying information. 

For example, timeline infographics can either be presented vertically or horizontally, to present data on everything from project timelines to company history. Meanwhile, comparison infographics are often presented in vertical format, and can present in forms such as bar graphs to pie charts to show differing data sets. 

Knowing your infographic’s look will help you pick the right infographic template. 

5. Create a logical hierarchy

Create a logical hierarchy in your infographic by planning its structure in a visually engaging way. Writing for an infographic is different from writing content for a blog post or an academic paper. 

Before you create infographics, write your content either in Word or in a Google Doc. This will give you an overview of your infographic content, and you can switch data around without editing your infographic. 

Your custom infographic should contain the following elements: 

• Introduction
• Body Content
• Conclusion/Call-to-Action 

6. Pick and customize a template for designing infographics

The best part about making different types of infographics these days is that you don’t have to start from scratch.

For example, you can browse through Piktochart’s infographic template collection , and pick the suitable template based on your own infographic goals and the type of information you’re about to present. 

From hierarchical infographics to infographic resumes, you can customize all our templates’ visual format options with your preferred visual content to deliver your message; it takes a few clicks to tailor it to your preferences. You can also mix and match colors as needed. Before you know it, you’re all set!

An added benefit of static infographic templates is you can reuse and repurpose your infographic templates. This is particularly useful when you create reports or graphics that have to be updated regularly.

7. Download your infographic

After all the hard work, you’re ready to download, embed, and share your infographic. Before you download and say, “that’s a wrap!” you have to: 

• Check the validity of your sources.
• Double-check for typos and grammar errors.
• Have someone go over your infographic and ask for feedback.

With Piktochart’s infographic maker , there are many download options to choose from, whether you’re planning to share your infographic online or offline for marketing content for your content strategy. 

For more infographic design tips and in-depth advice, read this guide on How to Make an Infographic or watch the video below on making infographics.

Create Your Own Infographics Using Our Infographic Examples

When you present data and convey information to your audience in any visual way, your goal is to have them process it. Visually engaging infographics help your audience accomplish this goal more effectively. 

In summary, you’re not just sharing information with simple infographics. A great infographic helps your audience make better decisions, get insights, and motivate them to act. Additinally, a great infographic can build brand awareness and generate leads.

Get started with your first infographic today. Sign up for a free Piktochart account .  

Kyjean Tomboc is an experienced content marketer for healthcare, design, and SaaS brands. She also manages content (like a digital librarian of sorts). She lives for mountain trips, lap swimming, books, and cats.

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Interactive Infographics: A Guide To Data Visualization

You have 8 seconds to catch the attention of your target audience. That’s it. 

What does that mean for your business? Basically, in an age of marketing where your reader has an attention span shorter than a goldfish, creating engaging content is more important than ever.

When it comes to your digital marketing strategy, don’t neglect the power of interactive infographics. Adding elements of user interaction can take a static infographic to the next level — becoming an increasingly engaging piece of content and telling a more comprehensive story.

Let’s take a closer look at how interactive infographics can add value to your content marketing strategy. 

What Exactly Is an Interactive Infographic?

First things first: What’s an infographic? 

An infographic is essentially a graphic visual representation of information, data or knowledge aimed at presenting information in a way that’s easy to understand. This design tool is a great way to educate, inform and make complex information easily digestible for the reader. An infographic can add value to your content marketing when you want to:

• Provide a quick overview of a specific topic.
• Display data or research findings in a visually appealing way. 
• Simplify a complicated concept.
• Compare and contrast multiple options. 
• Raise awareness. 

OK, so what’s an interactive infographic then?

An interactive infographic includes interactive user interface (UI) elements that make for a more dynamic experience. When done right, this type of content feels like an in-depth conversation with your target audience — helping users engage and make lasting connections with your brand.

Demand Gen reports 85% of B2B marketers are already using or plan to use interactive infographics as part of their strategy, where interactive content has been effective in differentiating their brands from their competitors. With the growing popularity of interactivity in mind, let’s dive into a few examples that you’ll want to follow!

Some of the Best Examples To Inspire Your Next Project

Below are 5 interactive infographics you can come back to when you need creative ideas:

1. “How Seamless Is Your Omnichannel CX?”

This interactive infographic for Zendesk , created by Brafton, allows brands to answer questions to determine how they stack up against the competition in terms of their omnichannel CX. Zendesk — providing software-as-a-service products that support improved customer service — leveraged this quiz to create a personalized experience by presenting the user with further content to consume based on their answers. 

Interactive elements: This graphic is in the form of a quiz!

Why it works: This graphic is ultimately successful because it follows the rule, “keep it simple, but significant.” Turning the information and data to be presented into a quiz is a relatively straightforward idea, but it does a great job of engaging the audience. The reader has a valuable opportunity to better understand niche subject matter, and, in this case, where they stand in comparison to others — offering a more personalized experience. 

2. “My Home vs Mahomes”

This infographic from World Sports Network (WSN) allows the reader to input their salary to see how long it would take them to purchase the homes of several professional athletes — including National Football League MVP, quarterback and Super Bowl champion, Patrick Mahomes. WSN, a leader in sports news and resources, used this infographic to not only bring attention to their brand, but also help readers gain perspective on just how massive NFL and other sports contracts can be. 

Interactive elements: User input modifies and personalizes the infographic.

Why it works: This infographic is effective because it requires limited interactivity from the user. With one action, viewers can enjoy an engaging and personalized experience that’s likely to sustain their interest in the page. It’s also a simple and effective way to put a niche topic into perspective for the reader.

Give this slightly-maddening graphic a go, here .  

3. “The New New York City Skyline”

With Manhattan seeing an exceptional boom in tall buildings — which are rapidly and radically changing the skyline — the National Geographic online publication shared this infographic to give viewers a unique perspective into how the skyscrapers in the city were scheduled to look by the end of 2020. Users can interact with this graphic by scrolling through and viewing the separated 3D sections. Buildings are color-coded and labeled, and the reader can hover over or click on elements to learn more along the way.

Interactive elements: This graphic features scrolling and hovering effects, clickable elements and 3D imaging. 

Why it works: This one infographic packs a lot of information. And, it gives the user that information in engaging and bite-sized pieces, allowing the reader to explore the details at their own pace. By taking this informative content from intriguing to captivating, viewers are not only more likely to actively participate in and enjoy the experience but also retain the information they learned much longer.  

Interactive infographics are a great resource to support your content, but if you’re in a pinch for time,  this type of graphic might not be your simplest choice. In fact, it requires a bit of work to do successfully. But, if you have a more flexible timeline and you’re willing to put in the effort, you certainly won’t regret it!

Try it out for yourself here .

4. “An Animated Chart of 42 North American Butterflies”

Tabletop Whale creates original science illustrations that are made as an aid to help individuals gain a deeper understanding of specific science-themed topics. They designed this animated infographic to educate viewers about a host of butterfly species in North America. 

Interactive elements: This graphic uses animation to bring these butterflies to life.

Why it works: Using micro-animations, the infographic is immediately eye-catching and serves both entertainment and educational purposes. While adding animation was a seemingly simple choice, it makes a significant difference in how any reader will eventually consume the content — elevating a static infographic and supporting greater engagement. 

Take a look .

5. “An Analysis of the Beatles?”

One of my personal favorites, Dueling Data’s interactive infographic tells a clear and visual story of information surrounding the Beatles and their music throughout their careers. 

Interactive elements: This infographic takes advantage of hovering effects and clickable elements.

Why it works: As a Beatles fan myself, one could argue that this is a pretty interesting topic to begin with. So, why opt for a graphic with interactivity at its core? In this case, an interactive infographic works because such a prolific band means there’s immense data to showcase and highlight — which can be difficult to display in a clear or concise way. This content succeeds at presenting all of the data gathered (which is clearly a lot ) in a visually appealing, engaging and understandable way.

You can check it out here .

If interactivity is the future of data visualization, how can you make the most of this type of design tool?

A Guide To Creating an Engaging and Interactive Infographic

When it comes to the possibilities of interactive infographics, the examples discussed are just the tip of the iceberg. Eager to get started on an interactive piece for your content? Understandable, of course. But, wait for just a second! 

Before diving in, take a look at our guide for creating interactive graphics successfully :

1. Collect Necessary Data and Effectively Communicate the Information

The first step to make virtually any content is gathering data. For someone who’s well-versed in the marketing space, this initial action may seem pretty obvious, but it really is the foundation for a successful process.

Uninteresting and irrelevant data won’t become magically riveting with the addition of visuals. The information you’re presenting needs to be just as captivating as the interactive elements you plan to include for the most powerful visual storytelling.  

2. Organize Your Data With Compelling Visuals

Now, you can consider the visual elements that would be fitting for your content — which is what makes an infographic unique in the first place. Instead of your humdrum list of facts or statistics, you can incorporate interesting visuals to maintain reader interest and engagement. 

Suitable, attention-grabbing visuals can add flavor to an otherwise dull presentation of information. Here are just some of the elements you might include:

• Digital images.
• Illustrations.
• Charts and graphs.

Remember: Consistency is key! The same is true for your visual content. Pay attention to the color, tone and the type of visual elements you plan to make use of, and don’t stray too far from that path. 

3. Determine and Apply the Interactive Elements You Want To Include

Now that you have a pretty clear picture of what you’re going for, It’s finally time to start thinking about the interactive portion of your information graphic. Exciting, right? 

For the best results, you need to identify and apply the interactive elements that not only complement the data you’re presenting but bring it to life for your viewers. This can make all the difference. While the options for interactive features are practically endless, here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Including embedded video or audio.
• Adding popups.
• Incorporating clickable elements.
• Leveraging hover effects.
• Using animation.

Pretty simple right? You’re essentially approaching the process like you would any other infographic and adding the interactive elements you need for a more engaging user experience. When a static infographic isn’t enough to help viewers engage or understand the topic at hand, interactivity can save the day.

The Value of Visual Storytelling and Data Visualization 

At the end of the day, an interactive experience makes for an engaging infographic — and that’s good for your brand and your bottom line.

Captivating viewers helps them derive true value from your content, which is the cornerstone of keeping your brand at the front of consumers’ minds and building long-term loyalty. And if the road to lasting consumer loyalty starts with something as simple as creating interactive infographics that support your information-rich content, why not take advantage of it? 

It’s time to see where visual storytelling and data visualization can take your content! 

Samantha Finley

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Samantha Finley is a Brafton Content Writer in Texas with a background in social media coordination. Her creativity extends beyond her work life, as she's also a competitive hip-hop dancer, choreographer and now teacher.

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What is Infographics?

Infographics (a clipped compound of “information” and “graphics”) are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge intended to present information quickly and clearly. – Wikipedia

Infographics are a powerful tool for displaying data, explaining concepts, simplifying presentations, mapping relationships, showing trends and providing essential insights.

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Usage of Infographics

Infographics can improve cognition by utilizing graphics to enhance the human visual system’s ability to see patterns and trends. Similar pursuits are information visualization, data visualization, statistical graphics, information design, or information architecture.

• Show the best and worst values in a data set
• Demonstrate changes and trends over time
• Break down the subject item to illustrate its various components
• Illustrate the distribution of data?
• Shed light on the relationship between various values

Why Infographics?

Infographics are perfect for compiling a lot of data into one easy-to-follow format that’s both nice to look at and persuasive. Search volumes for infographics have increased significantly, Not only are infographics visually appealing and fun to look at, but they’re also an extremely effective SEO and marketing tool.

The average attention span of a human is eight seconds, and therefore marketers need to make a meaningful impact immediately to connect with their target audiences. Our brains do less work to digest visual content, first of all. And, more compellingly for marketers, visual content drives more traffic and engagement than plain text does.

There are countless of benefits for using infographics for our day-to-day life and here listed below just only a few of them:

• Minimal text with high impact
• It simplifies complex concepts or ideas.
• Easily shareable on Social networks
• Simple to create unique content that aligns with your brand
• Increases knowledge retention.
• Engages distracted corporate learners
• Eye-catching for enhancing SEO

Visual Paradigm Infographics Designer

Although infographics appear to be graphically complicated and expertly made, you can easily make them yourself and save a lot of money by using Visual Paradigm Online. You will find many more resources for making your infographics such as templates, examples, diagrams, charts and related resources available on the site for easily create professional infographics with incredibly low subscription fees!

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Designing effective infographics.

August 12, 2018 2018-08-12

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As the ways we collect data and the tools we use to analyze it evolve, our world is becoming incredibly data-rich. One of the most exciting challenges designers face in an increasingly quantitative world is how to translate data into a medium that is easily understood by a wide audience. Information graphics (better known as infographics ) are a powerful storytelling tool that allows users to comprehend, analyze, and explore data. The hope of social-media sharing has made infographics popular on websites that emphasize content marketing.

The distinction between data visualizations and information graphics is subtle, but important. Infographics often contain data visualizations, but a data visualization on its own is not an infographic.

Definition: A data visualization is a graphical representation of a set of data. Charts, graphs and maps are the most commonly used types of data visualization.

In human–computer interaction, the field of information visualization studies interactive data representation. Unlike data visualization, which is generally static, an information visualization allows users to manipulate the visualization in order to get to different aspects of the data.

Information and data visualizations can reveal patterns that might have been difficult to discern from numbers alone. However, for certain types of audiences or in certain contexts, a visualization may be insufficient for communicating your message. In such situations, information graphics can get your point across more clearly.

Definition: An infographic is a multimedia graphic aiming to present complex information and data in a way that is easy to understand. Infographics often include data or (more rarely) information visualizations, but must also provide context in the form of illustrations, facts, quotes, and captions. Thus, an infographic can stand on its own as a separate piece of content (though it can also be shown in the context of an article with additional text).

In This Article:

Design guidelines for information graphics, common mistakes.

Every item on an infographic — from charts to the imagery that illustrates them — should convey meaningful information. Edward Tufte created the concept of the data–ink ratio in his 1983 book The Visual Display of Quantitative Information to sum up the data density in a visualization. The ratio compares the valuable information (the data) to the full graphic (the total “ink”). Ideally, data visualizations have a high data–ink ratio: all or most of the visual elements in the graphic convey meaningful information about the dataset.

Tufte advocates for a minimalistic presentation of charts that directs viewers to the information presented rather than to the designer’s artistic additions. His approach removes all decoration — a chart with a perfect data–ink ratio not only omits illustrations but also removes items such as background images, decorations of chart items, and even gridlines.

Infographics are a hybrid medium, however, and there is room for creative license here. Elements of visual interest such as illustrations, photos, and icons are acceptable and even expected in the medium. Using a visual theme may ground your piece in a metaphor that makes abstract concepts easy to understand. Elements that do not distract from the charts and add meaning to the numbers can be helpful additions. They can also increase the shareability of the infographic and help 3 rd -party users to understand the message when they encounter a reposted visual on, say, Twitter or Instagram without the additional context provided by the original site.

Informational Honesty

The most important thing to remember when designing an information graphic is to present data clearly and truthfully . Scale your charts in a way that shows the differences in the data and communicates the range of values accurately. If you include summary statistics in your graphic, clearly indicate the information source you used to calculate those figures. 

Statisticians and information designers have debated the details of scaling in charts for decades. One topic of particular contention is the starting point of the y-axis. Darrell Huff cautioned readers to beware of any chart that does not begin the y-axis with 0 in his 1954 book How to Lie with Statistics . Some experts disagree; Edward Tufte argues that this rule is not necessary as long as the chart clearly shows that the scale has been truncated. Choose a scale for your charts that strikes a balance between demonstrating trends clearly and conveying the scale of the original dataset. The y-axis of a data visualization should show a baseline state of the data set . In many cases, 0 is a natural starting point, but it is not necessary to force a visualization to begin at 0 when another logical starting point exists.

For example, it is a commonly accepted practice in the financial industry to truncate the y-axis of a stock chart. Users generally care about details of the stock’s price and how it has changed over time. The chart does not need to begin at 0 in order to establish a meaningful baseline.

However, truncating the y-axis would not be acceptable if the main user task were to compare different values on the graph. In the stock chart above, if users were interested in the relative values of the stock for October 2017 vs. Jun 2018, they might erroneously infer that the stock price doubled based on the position of the data points on the graph.

Similarly, the chart below lends itself to misinterpretation because of how the y-axis is truncated. The chart was published to show how Americans felt about a controversial court decision. It visually implies that there is a stark difference of opinion between Democrats and Republicans. In fact, the absolute numbers show that 62% of Democrats and 54% of Republicans agreed with the court’s decision.

Minimalism and Infographic Design

Although the rules of design are fairly relaxed in the world of infographics, a minimalistic approach is helpful. Minimalism is a design philosophy that reduces the complexity of the presentation of content.

Choose fonts that are readable rather than decorative . Selecting a font that scales well is key. The medium demands many different text sizes: titles, headings, quotes, statistics, and captions should be sized differently to establish a clear hierarchy within the graphic. Script fonts and overly complex serif fonts should be avoided as they often distract from the many points of visual information that the eye takes in when viewing an infographic.

Choose a limited color palette . A few distinct colors are more visually inviting and focus attention better than many colors. Color can be an excellent way to quickly communicate differences on a chart or to highlight various sections of an infographic, but too many colors are overwhelming.

Remember that, although color is a powerful communication tool, it should never be used as the only visual distinction. Colorblind and visually impaired users will struggle to understand infographics that communicate important points using color alone. A minimal palette requires designers to be conscious of how they use color and what other visual tools they can use to express information.

Present simple illustrations . Choosing simple and clean illustrations allows the focus of the infographic to remain fixed on relevant data. These illustrations should support the overall message of the piece but do not necessarily need to directly interpret the data. The infographic above discusses how companies can recruit remote developers.

The graphical elements in this infographic are modern and minimalistic. The lines are clean and the graphics do not contain any complex textures. All follow the same aesthetic conventions. Maintaining a simple but consistent style for all graphical elements makes an infographic feel like a unified and visually pleasing whole.

Interactivity

Interactive infographics include data or information visualizations that users can directly manipulate. This type of infographic provides context and narrative, while allowing users to control what aspect of the data they see.  Interactive infographics have become popular in recent years. Major news outlets frequently feature interactive infographics to allow their readers to explore the numbers behind the stories they publish.

Consider the needs of the piece you are creating before adding interactive elements. What aspects of the data will users be interested in? If you simply want to make a point, then a static visualization supporting it may be enough. If you’d like your users to manipulate and get a deep understanding of the different aspects of your dataset, an interactive infographic may be appropriate.

Sharing and Social Media

Infographics are often shared on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. These channels can be helpful in driving traffic to your content. However, graphics shared on social media are often reposted without a link to the original source. Consider adding a watermark or logo to any infographics that you create. This addition will help users who come across an unattributed version of your graphic to find the original piece.

• Distracting visual elements . The graphical elements of an infographic should add interest and enhance the infographic’s main point. Relying too heavily on a theme or a visual pun takes viewers’ attention away from the message you are trying to send.

• Distorted scale . This common mistake undermines a visualization’s informational honesty, as we discussed previously. When the scale of a chart does not accurately represent differences between data points then it gives an incorrect impression of the original data. Charts within an infographic that have been cropped, stretched or otherwise distorted give a false impression of the available data.
• Copy as an afterthought . Infographics are a primarily visual medium, but what viewers read is still important. Many infographics designers add text in at the very end of the design process and use unclear copy that detracts from the overall graphic. Moreover, some infographics neglect to optimize text for the format. Long, unstructured paragraphs create an overload of information. Concise writing is harder, but has more impact.

• Unclear hierarchy . A visual hierarchy guides your viewers through the variety of information presented in an infographic. When items are sized arbitrarily and sequenced without apparent reason, the message of the infographic becomes difficult to discern.

A Note on Common Mistakes

Designing data visualizations and infographics is not an exact science. The common mistakes discussed here are so ubiquitous in part because the discipline is evolving so rapidly. Data visualizations have been printed for centuries, but the recent evolution of the internet has enabled vast changes in the way we consume the material. Interactive infographics were slow and difficult to use when they were rendered in Flash ten years ago but highly responsive graphics are possible in modern browsers. Best practices will change with technological improvements and visual trends will shift, but the basic principles of accessible information design will remain the same.

When you create an infographic, strive for clarity and accessibility rather than absolute perfection. Iterate the graphics that you generate in order to discover how to better present your content in a way that is easily understood by your intended audience.

Infographics are an excellent way to communicate complex concepts in an accessible and even entertaining manner. This hybrid medium combines data visualizations with graphics and text to make the information easy to understand. Many established heuristics of user-interface design can be applied to data visualizations and infographics in order to create educational and beautiful expressions of data.

Huff, D. (1954). How to Lie with Statistics . New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.

Shneiderman, B. (1996). The Eyes Have It: A Task by Data Type Taxonomy for Information Visualizations, Proceedings 1996 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages .

Tufte, E. (1983). The Visual Display of Quantitative Information . Chesire, CT: Graphics Press.

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17 Data Visualization Techniques All Professionals Should Know

• 17 Sep 2019

There’s a growing demand for business analytics and data expertise in the workforce. But you don’t need to be a professional analyst to benefit from data-related skills.

Becoming skilled at common data visualization techniques can help you reap the rewards of data-driven decision-making , including increased confidence and potential cost savings. Learning how to effectively visualize data could be the first step toward using data analytics and data science to your advantage to add value to your organization.

Several data visualization techniques can help you become more effective in your role. Here are 17 essential data visualization techniques all professionals should know, as well as tips to help you effectively present your data.

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What Is Data Visualization?

Data visualization is the process of creating graphical representations of information. This process helps the presenter communicate data in a way that’s easy for the viewer to interpret and draw conclusions.

There are many different techniques and tools you can leverage to visualize data, so you want to know which ones to use and when. Here are some of the most important data visualization techniques all professionals should know.

Data Visualization Techniques

The type of data visualization technique you leverage will vary based on the type of data you’re working with, in addition to the story you’re telling with your data .

Here are some important data visualization techniques to know:

• Gantt Chart
• Box and Whisker Plot
• Waterfall Chart
• Scatter Plot
• Pictogram Chart
• Highlight Table
• Bullet Graph
• Choropleth Map
• Network Diagram
• Correlation Matrices

1. Pie Chart

Pie charts are one of the most common and basic data visualization techniques, used across a wide range of applications. Pie charts are ideal for illustrating proportions, or part-to-whole comparisons.

Because pie charts are relatively simple and easy to read, they’re best suited for audiences who might be unfamiliar with the information or are only interested in the key takeaways. For viewers who require a more thorough explanation of the data, pie charts fall short in their ability to display complex information.

2. Bar Chart

The classic bar chart , or bar graph, is another common and easy-to-use method of data visualization. In this type of visualization, one axis of the chart shows the categories being compared, and the other, a measured value. The length of the bar indicates how each group measures according to the value.

One drawback is that labeling and clarity can become problematic when there are too many categories included. Like pie charts, they can also be too simple for more complex data sets.

3. Histogram

Unlike bar charts, histograms illustrate the distribution of data over a continuous interval or defined period. These visualizations are helpful in identifying where values are concentrated, as well as where there are gaps or unusual values.

Histograms are especially useful for showing the frequency of a particular occurrence. For instance, if you’d like to show how many clicks your website received each day over the last week, you can use a histogram. From this visualization, you can quickly determine which days your website saw the greatest and fewest number of clicks.

4. Gantt Chart

Gantt charts are particularly common in project management, as they’re useful in illustrating a project timeline or progression of tasks. In this type of chart, tasks to be performed are listed on the vertical axis and time intervals on the horizontal axis. Horizontal bars in the body of the chart represent the duration of each activity.

Utilizing Gantt charts to display timelines can be incredibly helpful, and enable team members to keep track of every aspect of a project. Even if you’re not a project management professional, familiarizing yourself with Gantt charts can help you stay organized.

5. Heat Map

A heat map is a type of visualization used to show differences in data through variations in color. These charts use color to communicate values in a way that makes it easy for the viewer to quickly identify trends. Having a clear legend is necessary in order for a user to successfully read and interpret a heatmap.

There are many possible applications of heat maps. For example, if you want to analyze which time of day a retail store makes the most sales, you can use a heat map that shows the day of the week on the vertical axis and time of day on the horizontal axis. Then, by shading in the matrix with colors that correspond to the number of sales at each time of day, you can identify trends in the data that allow you to determine the exact times your store experiences the most sales.

6. A Box and Whisker Plot

A box and whisker plot , or box plot, provides a visual summary of data through its quartiles. First, a box is drawn from the first quartile to the third of the data set. A line within the box represents the median. “Whiskers,” or lines, are then drawn extending from the box to the minimum (lower extreme) and maximum (upper extreme). Outliers are represented by individual points that are in-line with the whiskers.

This type of chart is helpful in quickly identifying whether or not the data is symmetrical or skewed, as well as providing a visual summary of the data set that can be easily interpreted.

7. Waterfall Chart

A waterfall chart is a visual representation that illustrates how a value changes as it’s influenced by different factors, such as time. The main goal of this chart is to show the viewer how a value has grown or declined over a defined period. For example, waterfall charts are popular for showing spending or earnings over time.

8. Area Chart

An area chart , or area graph, is a variation on a basic line graph in which the area underneath the line is shaded to represent the total value of each data point. When several data series must be compared on the same graph, stacked area charts are used.

This method of data visualization is useful for showing changes in one or more quantities over time, as well as showing how each quantity combines to make up the whole. Stacked area charts are effective in showing part-to-whole comparisons.

9. Scatter Plot

Another technique commonly used to display data is a scatter plot . A scatter plot displays data for two variables as represented by points plotted against the horizontal and vertical axis. This type of data visualization is useful in illustrating the relationships that exist between variables and can be used to identify trends or correlations in data.

Scatter plots are most effective for fairly large data sets, since it’s often easier to identify trends when there are more data points present. Additionally, the closer the data points are grouped together, the stronger the correlation or trend tends to be.

10. Pictogram Chart

Pictogram charts , or pictograph charts, are particularly useful for presenting simple data in a more visual and engaging way. These charts use icons to visualize data, with each icon representing a different value or category. For example, data about time might be represented by icons of clocks or watches. Each icon can correspond to either a single unit or a set number of units (for example, each icon represents 100 units).

In addition to making the data more engaging, pictogram charts are helpful in situations where language or cultural differences might be a barrier to the audience’s understanding of the data.

11. Timeline

Timelines are the most effective way to visualize a sequence of events in chronological order. They’re typically linear, with key events outlined along the axis. Timelines are used to communicate time-related information and display historical data.

Timelines allow you to highlight the most important events that occurred, or need to occur in the future, and make it easy for the viewer to identify any patterns appearing within the selected time period. While timelines are often relatively simple linear visualizations, they can be made more visually appealing by adding images, colors, fonts, and decorative shapes.

12. Highlight Table

A highlight table is a more engaging alternative to traditional tables. By highlighting cells in the table with color, you can make it easier for viewers to quickly spot trends and patterns in the data. These visualizations are useful for comparing categorical data.

Depending on the data visualization tool you’re using, you may be able to add conditional formatting rules to the table that automatically color cells that meet specified conditions. For instance, when using a highlight table to visualize a company’s sales data, you may color cells red if the sales data is below the goal, or green if sales were above the goal. Unlike a heat map, the colors in a highlight table are discrete and represent a single meaning or value.

13. Bullet Graph

A bullet graph is a variation of a bar graph that can act as an alternative to dashboard gauges to represent performance data. The main use for a bullet graph is to inform the viewer of how a business is performing in comparison to benchmarks that are in place for key business metrics.

In a bullet graph, the darker horizontal bar in the middle of the chart represents the actual value, while the vertical line represents a comparative value, or target. If the horizontal bar passes the vertical line, the target for that metric has been surpassed. Additionally, the segmented colored sections behind the horizontal bar represent range scores, such as “poor,” “fair,” or “good.”

14. Choropleth Maps

A choropleth map uses color, shading, and other patterns to visualize numerical values across geographic regions. These visualizations use a progression of color (or shading) on a spectrum to distinguish high values from low.

Choropleth maps allow viewers to see how a variable changes from one region to the next. A potential downside to this type of visualization is that the exact numerical values aren’t easily accessible because the colors represent a range of values. Some data visualization tools, however, allow you to add interactivity to your map so the exact values are accessible.

15. Word Cloud

A word cloud , or tag cloud, is a visual representation of text data in which the size of the word is proportional to its frequency. The more often a specific word appears in a dataset, the larger it appears in the visualization. In addition to size, words often appear bolder or follow a specific color scheme depending on their frequency.

Word clouds are often used on websites and blogs to identify significant keywords and compare differences in textual data between two sources. They are also useful when analyzing qualitative datasets, such as the specific words consumers used to describe a product.

16. Network Diagram

Network diagrams are a type of data visualization that represent relationships between qualitative data points. These visualizations are composed of nodes and links, also called edges. Nodes are singular data points that are connected to other nodes through edges, which show the relationship between multiple nodes.

There are many use cases for network diagrams, including depicting social networks, highlighting the relationships between employees at an organization, or visualizing product sales across geographic regions.

17. Correlation Matrix

A correlation matrix is a table that shows correlation coefficients between variables. Each cell represents the relationship between two variables, and a color scale is used to communicate whether the variables are correlated and to what extent.

Correlation matrices are useful to summarize and find patterns in large data sets. In business, a correlation matrix might be used to analyze how different data points about a specific product might be related, such as price, advertising spend, launch date, etc.

Other Data Visualization Options

While the examples listed above are some of the most commonly used techniques, there are many other ways you can visualize data to become a more effective communicator. Some other data visualization options include:

• Bubble clouds
• Circle views
• Dendrograms
• Dot distribution maps
• Open-high-low-close charts
• Polar areas
• Radial trees
• Ring Charts
• Sankey diagram
• Span charts
• Streamgraphs
• Wedge stack graphs
• Violin plots

Tips For Creating Effective Visualizations

Creating effective data visualizations requires more than just knowing how to choose the best technique for your needs. There are several considerations you should take into account to maximize your effectiveness when it comes to presenting data.

Related : What to Keep in Mind When Creating Data Visualizations in Excel

One of the most important steps is to evaluate your audience. For example, if you’re presenting financial data to a team that works in an unrelated department, you’ll want to choose a fairly simple illustration. On the other hand, if you’re presenting financial data to a team of finance experts, it’s likely you can safely include more complex information.

Another helpful tip is to avoid unnecessary distractions. Although visual elements like animation can be a great way to add interest, they can also distract from the key points the illustration is trying to convey and hinder the viewer’s ability to quickly understand the information.

Finally, be mindful of the colors you utilize, as well as your overall design. While it’s important that your graphs or charts are visually appealing, there are more practical reasons you might choose one color palette over another. For instance, using low contrast colors can make it difficult for your audience to discern differences between data points. Using colors that are too bold, however, can make the illustration overwhelming or distracting for the viewer.

Related : Bad Data Visualization: 5 Examples of Misleading Data

Visuals to Interpret and Share Information

No matter your role or title within an organization, data visualization is a skill that’s important for all professionals. Being able to effectively present complex data through easy-to-understand visual representations is invaluable when it comes to communicating information with members both inside and outside your business.

There’s no shortage in how data visualization can be applied in the real world. Data is playing an increasingly important role in the marketplace today, and data literacy is the first step in understanding how analytics can be used in business.

Are you interested in improving your analytical skills? Learn more about Business Analytics , our eight-week online course that can help you use data to generate insights and tackle business decisions.

This post was updated on January 20, 2022. It was originally published on September 17, 2019.

About the Author

Data visualization is the representation of data through use of common graphics, such as charts, plots, infographics and even animations. These visual displays of information communicate complex data relationships and data-driven insights in a way that is easy to understand.

Data visualization can be utilized for a variety of purposes, and it’s important to note that is not only reserved for use by data teams. Management also leverages it to convey organizational structure and hierarchy while data analysts and data scientists use it to discover and explain patterns and trends.  Harvard Business Review  (link resides outside ibm.com) categorizes data visualization into four key purposes: idea generation, idea illustration, visual discovery, and everyday dataviz. We’ll delve deeper into these below:

Idea generation

Data visualization is commonly used to spur idea generation across teams. They are frequently leveraged during brainstorming or  Design Thinking  sessions at the start of a project by supporting the collection of different perspectives and highlighting the common concerns of the collective. While these visualizations are usually unpolished and unrefined, they help set the foundation within the project to ensure that the team is aligned on the problem that they’re looking to address for key stakeholders.

Idea illustration

Data visualization for idea illustration assists in conveying an idea, such as a tactic or process. It is commonly used in learning settings, such as tutorials, certification courses, centers of excellence, but it can also be used to represent organization structures or processes, facilitating communication between the right individuals for specific tasks. Project managers frequently use Gantt charts and waterfall charts to illustrate  workflows .  Data modeling  also uses abstraction to represent and better understand data flow within an enterprise’s information system, making it easier for developers, business analysts, data architects, and others to understand the relationships in a database or data warehouse.

Visual discovery

Visual discovery and every day data viz are more closely aligned with data teams. While visual discovery helps data analysts, data scientists, and other data professionals identify patterns and trends within a dataset, every day data viz supports the subsequent storytelling after a new insight has been found.

Data visualization

Data visualization is a critical step in the data science process, helping teams and individuals convey data more effectively to colleagues and decision makers. Teams that manage reporting systems typically leverage defined template views to monitor performance. However, data visualization isn’t limited to performance dashboards. For example, while  text mining  an analyst may use a word cloud to to capture key concepts, trends, and hidden relationships within this unstructured data. Alternatively, they may utilize a graph structure to illustrate relationships between entities in a knowledge graph. There are a number of ways to represent different types of data, and it’s important to remember that it is a skillset that should extend beyond your core analytics team.

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The earliest form of data visualization can be traced back the Egyptians in the pre-17th century, largely used to assist in navigation. As time progressed, people leveraged data visualizations for broader applications, such as in economic, social, health disciplines. Perhaps most notably, Edward Tufte published  The Visual Display of Quantitative Information  (link resides outside ibm.com), which illustrated that individuals could utilize data visualization to present data in a more effective manner. His book continues to stand the test of time, especially as companies turn to dashboards to report their performance metrics in real-time. Dashboards are effective data visualization tools for tracking and visualizing data from multiple data sources, providing visibility into the effects of specific behaviors by a team or an adjacent one on performance. Dashboards include common visualization techniques, such as:

• Tables: This consists of rows and columns used to compare variables. Tables can show a great deal of information in a structured way, but they can also overwhelm users that are simply looking for high-level trends.
• Pie charts and stacked bar charts:  These graphs are divided into sections that represent parts of a whole. They provide a simple way to organize data and compare the size of each component to one other.
• Line charts and area charts:  These visuals show change in one or more quantities by plotting a series of data points over time and are frequently used within predictive analytics. Line graphs utilize lines to demonstrate these changes while area charts connect data points with line segments, stacking variables on top of one another and using color to distinguish between variables.
• Histograms: This graph plots a distribution of numbers using a bar chart (with no spaces between the bars), representing the quantity of data that falls within a particular range. This visual makes it easy for an end user to identify outliers within a given dataset.
• Scatter plots: These visuals are beneficial in reveling the relationship between two variables, and they are commonly used within regression data analysis. However, these can sometimes be confused with bubble charts, which are used to visualize three variables via the x-axis, the y-axis, and the size of the bubble.
• Heat maps:  These graphical representation displays are helpful in visualizing behavioral data by location. This can be a location on a map, or even a webpage.
• Tree maps, which display hierarchical data as a set of nested shapes, typically rectangles. Treemaps are great for comparing the proportions between categories via their area size.

Access to data visualization tools has never been easier. Open source libraries, such as D3.js, provide a way for analysts to present data in an interactive way, allowing them to engage a broader audience with new data. Some of the most popular open source visualization libraries include:

• D3.js: It is a front-end JavaScript library for producing dynamic, interactive data visualizations in web browsers.  D3.js  (link resides outside ibm.com) uses HTML, CSS, and SVG to create visual representations of data that can be viewed on any browser. It also provides features for interactions and animations.
• ECharts:  A powerful charting and visualization library that offers an easy way to add intuitive, interactive, and highly customizable charts to products, research papers, presentations, etc.  Echarts  (link resides outside ibm.com) is based in JavaScript and ZRender, a lightweight canvas library.
• Vega:   Vega  (link resides outside ibm.com) defines itself as “visualization grammar,” providing support to customize visualizations across large datasets which are accessible from the web.
• deck.gl: It is part of Uber's open source visualization framework suite.  deck.gl  (link resides outside ibm.com) is a framework, which is used for  exploratory data analysis  on big data. It helps build high-performance GPU-powered visualization on the web.

With so many data visualization tools readily available, there has also been a rise in ineffective information visualization. Visual communication should be simple and deliberate to ensure that your data visualization helps your target audience arrive at your intended insight or conclusion. The following best practices can help ensure your data visualization is useful and clear:

Set the context: It’s important to provide general background information to ground the audience around why this particular data point is important. For example, if e-mail open rates were underperforming, we may want to illustrate how a company’s open rate compares to the overall industry, demonstrating that the company has a problem within this marketing channel. To drive an action, the audience needs to understand how current performance compares to something tangible, like a goal, benchmark, or other key performance indicators (KPIs).

Know your audience(s): Think about who your visualization is designed for and then make sure your data visualization fits their needs. What is that person trying to accomplish? What kind of questions do they care about? Does your visualization address their concerns? You’ll want the data that you provide to motivate people to act within their scope of their role. If you’re unsure if the visualization is clear, present it to one or two people within your target audience to get feedback, allowing you to make additional edits prior to a large presentation.

Choose an effective visual:  Specific visuals are designed for specific types of datasets. For instance, scatter plots display the relationship between two variables well, while line graphs display time series data well. Ensure that the visual actually assists the audience in understanding your main takeaway. Misalignment of charts and data can result in the opposite, confusing your audience further versus providing clarity.

Keep it simple:  Data visualization tools can make it easy to add all sorts of information to your visual. However, just because you can, it doesn’t mean that you should! In data visualization, you want to be very deliberate about the additional information that you add to focus user attention. For example, do you need data labels on every bar in your bar chart? Perhaps you only need one or two to help illustrate your point. Do you need a variety of colors to communicate your idea? Are you using colors that are accessible to a wide range of audiences (e.g. accounting for color blind audiences)? Design your data visualization for maximum impact by eliminating information that may distract your target audience.

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Guidelines for Good Visual Information Representations

Information visualization is not as easy as it might first appear, particularly when you are examining complex data sets. How do you deliver a “good” representation of the information that you bring out of the data that you are working with?

While this may be a subjective area of information visualization and, of course, there are exceptions to the guidelines (as with all areas of design – rules are for breaking if by breaking them you achieve your purpose) it’s best to begin with the four guidelines outlined by Edward Tufte.

About Edward Tufte

Edward Tufte is, perhaps, the world’s leading authority on information design and data visualization . He is an American statistician and a Professor Emeritus at Yale University (for political sciences, computer sciences and statistics).

He has authored several books and papers on analytic design and is a strong proponent for the power of visualizing data. In particular his books, Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Envisioning Information, Visual Explanations and Beautiful Evidence are considered to be definitive works in the field of information visualization. The New York Times called him; “The Leonardo da Vinci of data.”

Within his works you can find four essential guidelines for visual information representation:

Graphical Excellence

Visual integrity, maximizing the data-ink ratio, aesthetic elegance, tufte’s criteria for good visual information representation.

The purpose of “good’ representations is to deliver a visual representation of data to the user of that representation which is “most fit for purpose”. This will enable the user of the information to make the most out of the representation. There is no single hard and fast rule for creating good representations because the nature of the data, the users of that data, etc. are enormously varied.

Thus we find ourselves with a set of criteria which can be applied to most visual representations, as suggested by Tufte, to judge their fitness for purpose. It must be acknowledged, however, that these criteria can be bent or even broken if doing so serves a purpose for the user of the information representation.

There could be hours of debate as to what constitutes graphical excellence but Tufte offers that in data representations at least it should provide the user with; “the greatest number of ideas, in the shortest time, using the least amount of ink, in the smallest space.”

In short as with many other areas of user experience – the focus here is on usability ; it is completely possible to create beautiful graphical representations of data which fail to deliver on these premises. In fact, it might be said that this occurs so often that the power of data visualization is muted because people have come to expect such visualizations to be decorative rather than valuable.

The graphic above, relating to US employment statistics in March 2015, offers many ideas in a very small space and is easy to digest. We’d suggest it meets the criteria of “graphical excellence”.

This is a confusing term. When Tufte refers to “visual integrity” he is invoking an almost moral position in that the representation should neither distort the underlying data nor create a false impression or interpretation of that data.

In practice this means that numerical scales should be properly proportionate (and not fudged to exaggerate the fall or rise of a curve at a particular point, for example). That variations, when they occur, should relate to the data rather than to the artistic interpretation of that data. The dimensions used within an image should be limited to the dimensions within the data and should never exceed them and finally that the keys (or legends) should be undistorted and unambiguous.

This bar graph fails to give us enough information to be useful and thus fails in delivering “visual integrity”.

Tufte recommends that we pay attention to the way that a visualization is compiled; in that all superfluous elements (to the user) should be removed. He offers the idea that borders, backgrounds, use of 3D, etc. may do nothing but serve to distract the user from the information itself. He promotes that you give priority to the data and how it will be used and not to the visual appearance of that representation.

He also provides a mathematical formula for a data-ink ratio:

Data-Ink/Total Ink Used

This is simply a comparison of the ink needed to clearly and unambiguously present the data to the ink actually used (including aesthetic considerations). The closer the ratio is to 1 – the less distracting your representation is likely to be and thus the more useful it is likely to be for your user.

This image of business processes with an ERP environment is quite good at conveying which business functions are affected by the ERP processes but what purpose does the color scheme serve?

Tufte’s interpretation of aesthetic elegance is not based on the “physical beauty” of an information visualization but rather the simplicity of the design evoking the complexity of the data clearly.

He holds up Minard’s visualization (pictured below) of Napoleon’s March in the Russian Campaign as an example of aesthetic elegance.

The Take Away

Tufte’s guidelines are not prescriptive but rather designed to assist the information visualization professional in creating usable and useful information representations. At their core his rules can be boiled down to keeping things as simple and as honest as possible. The rest simply ensure that you adapt to complexity in the most creative and basic way possible.

UX designers will see clear links between their own design work on products and the design of information representations.

References and Resources

You can find all of Edward Tufte’s work via his website .

Find out more about Charles Joseph Minard and his map of Napoleon’s Russian Campaign.

You can also find an interesting analysis of Minard’s map here .

Hero Image: Author/Copyright holder: Kitware Inc. Copyright terms and licence: CC BY-ND 2.0

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Infographics: Graphic Visual Representations of Information

• April 28, 2020

The Seven Common Types of Infographics

Infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data, or knowledge intended to present information quickly and clearly. Utilizing graphics enhances our ability as humans to recognize patterns and trends and improves cognition. Infographics are made up of three primary elements, the visual, the content, and knowledge. Useful infographics are well designed, they tell a good story, and they are easy to interpret and understand. They combine written words with visual elements to present a significant amount of information in a clear and organized manner.

After completing your research and collecting your data, you need to determine how to demonstrate and communicate your results to your audience clearly. What better way than through an infographic? So, which infographic design will best represent and communicate your information? Below are seven common types of infographics to consider as you think about your infographic design.

List Infographic

The list infographic supports a claim through a series of steps. It is best used to support a specific claim or argument. Your list can go from top to bottom, left to right, or it can move across your canvas. List infographics are one of the most straightforward types of infographics as they engage readers and help them to remember information.

Comparison or Vs. Infographic

The comparison of Vs. Infographic compares two things in a head-to-head study and is typically used to communicate the pros and cons of a product. It is best used to highlight differences between two similar things or highlight similarities between two unlike things. The comparison infographic allows you to display two factors side by side to allow readers to take in all the essential elements and make their comparison in moments. It is also used to prove how one option is superior or inferior to the other option.

Flowchart Infographic

The flowchart infographic provides a specific answer to reader choices and is excellent for showing a process or decision making. It is best used to offer personalized responses to readers, to show how multiple situations can reach the same conclusion, or to display a process flow of your logistic sequence.

Visual Article Infographic

The visual article infographic makes writing more visual. It is best used to cut down on text or make an essay more interesting and enjoyable to consume. It also increases sharing potential as a visual article infographic takes a significant amount of information and presents it visually and enjoyably.

Map Infographic

The map infographic showcases data trends based on location. It is best used to compare places, culture, and people through setting centric data and demographics. A map infographic is used to convey information that is based on location in a visual manner to enhance engagement and comprehension.

Timeline Infographic

The timeline infographic tells a story through a chronological flow. A timeline infographic helps to create a clearer image of a specific timeframe. It is best used to show how something has changed over time or make a long-complicated story easier to understand. These infographics are used to visualize history, highlight essential dates, or display a project timeline.

Data Visualization Infographic

A data visualization infographic communicates data through charts and graphs. It showcases data through design by incorporating pic charts, bar graphs, and line graphs with visual graphics to disclose relevant information. It Is best used to make data-driven arguments easier to understand and makes facts or statistics more enjoyable to absorb.

Infographics are a great tool to communicate information quickly and clearly through graphic visuals, imagery, charts, and minimal texts. They are meant to limit the use of written text by using graphics to engage with your audience and present relevant information visually. Now that you have a basic understanding of the seven commonly used infographics, which type of infographic will you use to represent your information best?

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Recommended Reading

Card S.K., Mackinlay J.D., and Shneiderman B. Information visualization. In Readings in Information Visualization: Using Vision to Think, 1999, pp. 1–34.

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Card S.K., Mackinlay J.D., and Shneiderman B. Readings in Information Visualization: Using Vision to Think. Morgan Kaufman, Los Altos, CA, 1999.

Foley J.D., van Dam A., Feiner S.K., and Hughes J.F. Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1990.

Haber E.M., Ioannidis Y., and Livny M. Foundations of visual metaphors for schema display. J. Intell. Inf. Syst., 3(3/4):263–298, 1994.

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Tufte E.R. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Graphics Press, Cheshire, CO, 1983.

Tufte E.R. Envisioning Information. Graphics Press, Cheshire, CO, 1990.

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Ioannidis, Y. (2009). Visual Representation. In: LIU, L., ÖZSU, M.T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Database Systems. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-39940-9_449

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What Are Infographics and When Should You Use Them?

Who wants to spend a lot of time reading, trying to understand pages of complicated facts and figures? It’s certainly not a coincidence that so much of what we share online today is picture related. There’s just so much information around us that we cannot possibly remember it all in a limited amount of time. However, there is no doubt, using infographics to convey figures and data will help people absorb information in a much more efficient way

What are Infographics?

Infographics are graphic visual representations of information , data , or knowledge , intended to present complex information quickly and clearly.They can improve cognition by utilizing graphics to enhance the human visual system’s ability to see patterns and trends (source: Wikipedia ). Infographics are really about telling a story; they help you organize data, and make it visually digestible so that viewers can easily process the information. Infographics display large amounts of data and information in the form of a graph or picture. They are used for many reasons: They’re entertaining, eye-catching, concise, and all the information they contain is easily digested by the reader so they’re useful, too.

The Components of an Infographic

Infographics are composed of the following elements:

1. Visual Elements

• Reference icons

2. Content Elements

• Time Frames

3. Knowledge Elements

Why Should You Use Infographics?

As a graphic designer here at Segue, I have found infographics to be an educational, entertaining, and useful tool. We use infographics for our marketing /social media collateral pieces. Most importantly, infographics are fun and deliver the information you are trying to relay in an engaging and interesting way. Here is a great example:

Using infographics is also a quick way of getting your point across to your customer and grabbing their attention, and make it easier for the image to go viral. People see your infographic, click on the link, and presto! You have a new potential customer on your site. Done correctly, that picture will always be associated with your brand or website and can attract visitors to your site long after it was first posted.

Does your industry need to present data in an effective and compelling manner? Then infographics could be the right tool for you. According to the Search Engine Journal , “ Studies have found that 90 percent of the information that we remember is based on visual impact. We live in an age where 1.5 billion pieces of content, 140 million tweets, and 2 million videos are created on a daily basis, and you can easily understand why a simple visual aid can make your brand stand out.”

It’s not everyday that you can utilize something that is not only visually pleasing , but also has the capability to present a compelling narrative. An infographic can help you simplify a complicated subject matter or turn an otherwise boring subject into an engaging experience. At the end of the day, our main objective is to create something compelling to be seen, found, and shared. There are no limits to where your infographic can be posted. Being able to pack a ton of information into a visual package is a great opportunity to get your point across, drive interest and traffic, get exposure, and build your reputation as an expert.

Some references:

• http://www.forbes.com/sites/allbusiness/2013/08/02/use-infographics-to-boost-your-credibility-and-traffic/
• http://www.searchenginejournal.com/6-benefits-using-infographics/70917/
• http://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design-tips/information-graphics-1232836

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A Cheat Sheet to the Middle East’s Web of Friends and Enemies

By Daniel Levy Graphics by Gus Wezerek

Mr. Levy is the president of the U.S./Middle East Project and a former peace negotiator for Israel.

At the U.N. General Assembly in September, the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, brandished a map titled “The New Middle East” and asserted that Israel’s ties with Arab states were helping to create a corridor of peace from India through the Persian Gulf, via Israel, to Europe. A week later, the U.S. national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, declared, “The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades.”

A lot has changed in six months. The Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands — ignored in those expressions of optimism — has come back to the fore. Missiles are darting across the Middle East as the war between Israel and Hamas spills over into neighboring countries, with Iran and Israel exchanging direct missile and drone strikes for the first time.

To keep track of what is going on between some of the key players, we sketched out a social network of friends, enemies and frenemies involved in the region. Examining the web makes it clear how snarled and precarious the current situation is.

Here’s a simplified guide to the friendly , hostile and complicated dynamics between a handful of major countries and forces in the Middle East.

In one corner, so to speak, stand Israel and the United States. The U.S. government sends billions of dollars in arms and aid to Israel every year and has been the primary supporter of the country’s military. The nations’ closeness stretches back to Israel’s founding in 1948 and the Cold War, when Israel partnered with America to counter Soviet influence in the Middle East. Today, the benefits of rigid support for Israel are less obvious to the United States. Israel has built strong relations with China and has neither cut ties with Russia nor offered military support to Ukraine.

More consequentially, America’s support for Israel enables the country’s brutal treatment of Palestinians, which is deeply unpopular across the region and beyond. Iran, Syria and the Houthis, a political and armed group that controls much of Yemen, maintain a hostile position toward Israel (and vice versa). And Israel has formal diplomatic relations with just a handful of neighboring countries.

Afghanistan

No formal relations

with Israel

Arabian Sea

Israel’s primary military engagement at the moment is with Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007. Hamas led the Oct. 7 attacks that killed about 1,200 Israelis.

For years, Qatar provided financial aid to Gaza at Israel’s encouragement and with American support. Mr. Netanyahu’s government now uses those payments to blame Qatar for helping Hamas stay in power — a policy that he in fact supported.

While Israel’s relationship with Qatar is complicated , the United States counts the small, natural-gas-rich state as a friend and has a large air base there. Qatar has often coordinated with the United States as a mediator in various conflicts, including the current war between Israel and Hamas. Their friendship was tested in 2017 when then President Trump supported a blockade of Q atar led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Qatar’s relationship with Saudi Arabia improved after the blockade ended in 2021, and President Biden has worked much more closely with the country than his predecessor did.

• In 2015, Saudi Arabia launched a military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen.
• Last year, Prince Mohammed helped welcome the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, back into the Arab League.
• Before the Oct. 7 attack, the Saudis were in serious talks, led by the United States, to recognize Israel.

Israel has a major incentive to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia. Gaining the approval of the richest Arab state could open the door to recognition from other Muslim nations and, more importantly for Israel, deflect criticism of the country’s treatment of Palestinians. Saudi Arabia, for its part, would benefit from direct access to the Israeli military and technology sector. But its main interest in a pact with Israel is upgrading its relationship with Israel’s ally, the United States.

The Biden administration was initially cold toward Saudi Arabia and its ambitious crown prince. But as the United States focused more on China, Russia and Ukraine, the Arab oil juggernaut started to look like an indispensable partner in managing global and regional threats, such as Iran’s growing political power, and resumed nuclear efforts . Saudi Arabia shares many of the United States and Israel’s concerns about Iran but has kept its options open, resuming and deepening diplomatic ties with Tehran in a deal brokered last year by China.

The United States’ defeat of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, Iran’s greatest regional adversary, and the power vacuums created by the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings have allowed Iran to increase its influence in the Middle East. Iran’s allies include the Houthis, militias in Iraq , President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, and Hezbollah, a political and resistance movement in Lebanon. They have all maintained or gained strength in recent years. Together with Hamas, they constitute an “axis of resistance” against Israel and the United States.

• Houthis have targeted ships in the Red Sea registered to Israel or its supporters and have been bombed by the United States in response.
• Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged intense fire across the Lebanese border, which could become the epicenter of a wider regional conflagration.
• Senior Iranian military officials were killed when Israel bombed the country’s embassy in Syria. Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes.

Given the largely antagonistic relations in the region, further provocations by Mr. Netanyahu’s hard-right government could be all it takes to tilt the Middle East into all-out war.

Our network is far from comprehensive in its scope. Two of Israel’s neighbors with whom it has peace treaties — Egypt, which is part of mediation efforts with Hamas, and Jordan — are not featured here. In Jordan in particular, public outrage is palpable, often spilling into the streets. Anger rose a notch following Jordan’s cooperation (hesitantly acknowledged by its leadership) in responding to the April 13 Iranian drone and missile strike on Israel.

Also excluded from the graphic are countries that normalized relations with Israel, including under the Abraham Accords: Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Morocco. These ties have proved resilient under the strain of six months of war, and the inaction of these Arab states as Israel kills tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians lays to rest any naïve notion that the Abraham Accords could help deliver Palestinian rights and freedoms.

Readers may notice that the Palestinian node in our graphic shows Hamas rather than the Fatah-led Palestine Liberation Organization and its arm of limited governance in the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority. The Authority is deeply unpopular, and continues to cooperate with Israel even as Israel entrenches its control over the Palestinians while expanding illegal settlements. Calls for political change are rife in Palestinian society, at home and abroad. Excluding Hamas from future Palestinian political arrangements is an Israeli-U.S. pipe dream .

Meanwhile, successive U.S. administrations have sought to pivot away from entanglement in the Middle East, especially in the wake of America’s disastrous invasion of Iraq, a trend accelerated by America’s sharper focus on China and now Russia. Both the Trump and Biden administrations had seen promise in a version of a Pax Americana with less of a direct role for the United States and deeper military cooperation with regional allies as deterrence, particularly against Iran and its axis. That, in turn, would necessitate closer cooperation between Israel and more Arab states.

The human cost and horror of Israel’s actions in Gaza have diminished these possibilities. Moreover, the shattering of the myth of Israeli invincibility and the Israel Defense Forces’ intelligence and operational shortcomings since Oct. 7, combined with the Israeli government’s growing extremism, render closer relations with Israel far less attractive for many Arab states.

Countries in the region have also driven de-escalation on their own in recent years. The four-state blockade of Qatar, led by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, came to an end, and the Gulf states are all back on talking terms. Turkey (also not in our network) has mended fences across most of the region. The Saudi-led military action in Yemen has been winding down. In March 2023, China brokered a breakthrough, re-establishing ties between two of the region’s heavyweights, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Our network also shows that America is still somewhat trapped in this region. (Imagine that we swapped out the United States for China or Russia; neither would be connected to any other node by a red line of hostility.) America’s options remain circumscribed while it continues a lockstep alliance with an Israel that appears unwilling to shift course on the Palestinian question and is increasingly internationally defined as an apartheid regime. Israel’s campaign in Gaza — the killing of some 14,000 children, according to the Gazan health ministry, the devastation of cities and the humanitarian crisis, all while the United States has continued to arm Israel and support it at the United Nations — may only exacerbate America’s troubles.

Amid current tensions, it’s hard to imagine a transition toward regional de-escalation that would include rights and justice for Palestinians. But the magnitude of the current war in Gaza has upended calcified strategies, and that could be a harbinger of previously unlikely openings.

More on the widening war in Israel and Gaza

What Happened to the Joe Biden I Knew?

By Nicholas Kristof

How to Be Pro-Palestinian, Pro-Israeli and Pro-Iranian

By Thomas L. Friedman

Keeping U.S. Power Behind Israel Will Keep Iran at Bay

By Reuel Marc Gerecht and Ray Takeyh

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

Daniel Levy is the president of the U.S./Middle East Project and served as an Israeli peace negotiator at the Oslo-B talks under Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and the Taba negotiations under Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

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