Ever wanted to create your own infographics, but didn’t know where to start? Maybe you want to give the news a makeover or maybe you want to capitalize on the power of a great visual to convey your message (before you lose your information overloaded consumer). Great infographics contain some very common elements, and by following a few simple rules you can create your own.
- Your headline should include three unrelated fonts and at least one connecting script. Don’t be afraid to get creative. Catch the eye and the brain will follow.
- Speech bubbles can be used to help any small message stand out, or to do what they were originally intended to do: talk!
- When using a graph, opt for a donut graph. These are the most popular form of graphs, eclipsing pie graphs in popularity in 29.
- Ribbon banners are an infographic standard, and a sign that you know what you’re talking about. Other pictoral items, like the icons for man and woman or a gear, create visual interest and bank on a consumer’s familiarity with that symbol and what it implies.
- The goal is to get your consumer scrolling. While there’s no ideal proportion for an infographic, no block of related content should fit on one screen. You always want them to have to scroll down. A sinuous timeline also keeps the reader’s eye flowing down, so if you’ve got the content for one, go for it!
- Paper textures have universal appeal.
- Who says large print is only for books? Emphasize key points with a larger font size. The ideal font size is 199 percent.
When all else fails, take your cues from the admen to disguise bad data or weak content: “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.”
Infographic courtesy of Zedaxis.