Here is a quick 5-minute guide to get anyone to get started with creating or designing infographics.

1. 5-MINUTE GUIDE TO
Infographics
Prepared
by Hedren Sum

2. “
In a way, we’re all visual now. Every
day, every hour, maybe even every minute,
we’re seeing and absorbing information via
the web. We’ve steeped in it. Maybe even
lost in it. So perhaps what we need are welldesigned, colourful and – hopefully – useful
charts to help us navigate or a better way to
see and understand information.
”
David McCandless
Author, Information is Beautiful

3. What are infographics?
“
Infographics are visual presentations
intended to communicate complex information
quickly and clearly. The devices include,
according to Doug Newsom (2004), charts,
diagrams, graphs, tables, maps and lists. The
basic material of an infographic is the data,
information, or knowledge that the graphic
presents.
”
Information Archive
www.infographicsarchive.com
Image source: Infographic by Desbenoit from The Noun Project

4. Formats of
Infographics
Extracted from book,
Infographics: the power of visual storytelling
By Column five

5. Most common format of infographic, where
people use as an still image for print, web or
both
Typically contains fixed information and user
interaction consists of viewing and reading
Common types of static infographics include:
o Company internal reporting and
presentation
o Editorial or brand-centric content for
blogging or dissemination
Created using Piktochart, the infographic can be exported as
a still image or added to a blog post or web page using an
embed code.
View infographic at http://goo.gl/xZw5gW

6. An opportunity to communicate message to
your viewers in a powerful way through
animated or moving graphics
Better served with a narrative function with
limited passive user interaction (e.g. play,
pause, stop, rewind or fast-forward controls
on the output player)
Typically contains fixed information and user
interaction consists of viewing, listening (if
there is voiceover) and reading
Stills from motion infographic, “Open Text/The Power of
Information”. The infographic is accompanied with
voiceover and music.
View infographic at http://goo.gl/VIXEGp

7. Particular useful to present vast amount of
information that encourage viewers to
explore further
Information may be fixed and hard-coded
(manual updates) or drawn from a dynamic
source (automatic updates)
User interaction consists of clicking,
searching for specific data, actively shaping
the content displayed, and choosing what
information to be accessed and visualised
From “The Evolution of the Web” interactive infographic. It
shows major development of the web. It allows user to scroll
and click to view each of the development in detail. Users
can also change view of the infographic.
View infographic at http://goo.gl/FDqnmu

8. Typical steps in creating an
infographiC
Select a topic
Organise information
Generate infographic

9. Select a topic
Think of the following:
o What is the story you would like to tell?
o Is research or data suitable for creation of
visuals?
o Is your topic concise enough to be
communicate across in a short sentence?
o What are the key questions or areas that
you would like to focus?
o Who is your intended audience?
o Is there any targeted channels or
platforms?
Image source: Zoom in by Garrett Knoll from The Noun Project

10. Organise information
When organising the information for your
infographic, start with the most powerful piece
of information to attract your audience.
Order your information in a logical flow and
build towards a clear conclusion and a call-foraction at the end.
Indicate your sources of data to communicate
reliabilty and validity of your infographic.
Image source: Descend by Richard Schumann from The Noun Project

11. Generate infographic
Determine the suitable format to your targeted
audience, channels or platforms.
Leverage on available online applications to
generate your infographic, such as:
http://infogr.am
http://piktochart.com
Share your infographic to appropriate channels,
such as blogs, Slideshare, Flickr, Behance, etc.
Image source: Infographic by Desbenoit from The Noun Project

12. WHAT MAKES
AN INFOGRAPHIC
GOOD?
IMAGE SOURCE: WHAT MAKES GREAT INFOGRAPHICS BY SLIDESHARE

13. Thank You

14. CREDITS
Lankow, J., Ritchie, J., & Crooks, R. (2012). Infographics: The power
of visual storytelling. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
McCandless, D. (2009). Information is beautiful. London: Collins.
SlideShare. (2013). What makes great infographics [Infographic].
Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/Slideshare/071813slideshare-making-great-infographics2-iglh