HELP WORKBOOK 1

Introduction to communication skills

Unit 4 Creating Compelling Infographics

CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUCCESSFUL INFOGRAPHIC

✓Makes a point, and makes it clearly without overwhelming the target audience (e.g., clear takeaway message, call-to-action)

✓Highlights reliable, interesting data but avoids oversimplifying and distorting what the data have to say

✓Highlights relationships between facts, context, connections that make information meaningful; encourages the eye to compare different pieces of data

✓Visualises data and information creatively

✓Uses visuals and colours effectively

✓Serves a clear purpose: description, exploration, tabulation or decoration; provides value

✓Cites sources

Adapted from: Tufte, Edward (1983). The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Cheshire, Connecticut: Graphics Press; McCandless, David (2009). The Visual Miscellaneum: A Colorful Guide to the World's Most Consequential Trivia. Harper Design; 1 edition.

DEVELOPING AN INFOGRAPHIC

Step-by-Step Guide

STEP 1: COLLECT AND ANALYSE THE DATA

STEP 2: WHO IS YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE? • What do they care about? • What are their pain points?

STEP 3: DEFINE YOUR COMMUNICATION GOALS • What do you want your audience to do after reading the

infographic?

STEP 4: WHAT IS THE STORY YOU WANT TO TELL?• Organise the content.• Create a content outline of the main and sub-headers that support

the communication goals of the infographic

STEP 5: WHAT DATA DO YOU NEED TO INCLUDE IN THE INFOGRAPHIC TO SUCCESSFULLY TELL THAT STORY?

• Pare down the data by choosing the key findings that support the main message of your infographic that support communication goals of the infographic

STEP 6: DRAW A SKETCH• Sketch out your main and sub-headlines and graphics.• View the Infographic Layout Cheat Sheet for additional guidance.

STEP 7: DETERMINE FORMAT• Choose the most appropriate format such as infographic,

interactive, video/motion graphic.

STEP 8: DESIGN• Use Easel.ly to design your infographic – http://www.easel.ly/• Easel.ly demo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=0VHyKgdbUhU• Other online tools designed to help develop infographics – View

blog post on Digital Media and Science

Color• Use online tools to choose a balanced color scheme, e.g., Vhue,

Color Spire, Colour Lovers, Pictaculous, Paletton, Color Blender, Instant Color Scheme

Font• Enhance contrast and use distinguishable fonts, for example

combine a sans-serif and serif font, and use different weights • Use no more than two different fonts if possible• Use the same font for related content

Learn more about “The 10 Commandments of Typography”

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Layout• Use whites pace to improve the readability of the content and to

help viewers focus on the important information aspects of the infographic.

• Use as little text as possible. Infographics are typically driven with visual elements such as charts, diagrams, and icons.

• Limit width to 735 pixels (standard). Avoid height of more than 5000 pixels.

• View the Infographic Layout Cheat Sheet for additional guidance.

STEP 9: REVIEW AND PUBLISH

You may want to share your infographic broadly. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Posting• Use keywords (the main topics covered by the infographic) when

posting your infographic to help online information seekers find it. If applicable, include the keywords in page titles, URLs, alt tags for images and Header (H1 and H2) elements.

• If applicable, make the embed code available. It will encourage others to embed the infographic on their site, whilst linking back to your website.

Sharing• Place your infographic on social media platforms such as

Pinterest, Flickr, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, your blog, Viral.ly, Scoop.it, etc.

• Splice up the main points in your infographics, for example by adding “tweetables” (i.e., a single button to tweet engaging facts) to your landing page. Tweetables help your visitors share stats and facts from your infographic, driving interest as well as traffic back to your infographic. How it works: http://www.brentnau.com/make-your-infographic-viral/

• Share your infographic with influencers in your field. For example via Twitter @mentions, LinkedIn groups, Quora, bloggers

Don’t forget to include citations and references if applicable. And if desired include your name or branding.

Notes