What is an infographic? Types and a design process

As the Internet has grown, people increasingly do not want to spend much time taking in information through plain, boring text. They want to get information quickly and accurately through other formats such as slides, audio and animated video. One format that stands out is the infographic, a method that is popular and widely used because of how well it works. So What is an infographic? This article Mona Media gives you an overview of one of the 9 types of content marketing in common use.

What is an infographic?

An infographic, short for information graphic, presents information as visuals so it reaches readers more effectively and more easily. In this kind of design, complex information is turned into symbols, icons, maps and so on. This lets researchers, scientists and people who work with statistics get concepts and ideas across effectively, in detail and in full.

What role do infographics play in marketing and advertising?

Infographics are becoming a trend in advertising content because users want short, concise content that still contains something new. It is also inconvenient to browse the web on a small phone screen, which makes in-depth analytical articles harder to read.

On top of delivering information effectively and benefiting businesses, users also say that reading an infographic saves them more time finding the knowledge they need than reading plain text did.

Types of infographics

An infographic presents information together with illustrations so that it stands out and draws more readers. Beyond choosing colors well, the overall layout is also an important factor. So depending on the situation, setting and purpose, the infographic you use can take many flexible forms. There are 10 main types, shown in the image below:

1. Informational infographic

This type uses more text than other types of infographics. The visuals are used fully to illustrate the concept or topic. As a result, an informational infographic gives readers carefully selected content that is useful, lively, and easy to remember and understand.

2. List infographic

This is one of the most popular types of infographic today. You can arrange the data and information freely, instead of only writing bullet points or presenting them in a straight line.

3. Timeline infographic

A timeline lays information out in a line, so this type is often used for milestones in the past, a long history or plans for the future. It can also shorten a long, complicated story into something concise and easy to follow. Images, icons and characters are often used to emphasize information in this type.

4. Comparison infographic

This is a good choice if you want to highlight a contrast. The layout of a comparison infographic is usually split symmetrically, vertically or horizontally, so viewers can see at a glance how two or more things differ and what they have in common.

5. Map infographic

A map infographic is an effective way to mark things visually by region or across the whole world. This style is very well suited to statistics or locations based on geography. You can also use this type to weigh and compare several options against each other.

6. Statistical infographic

A statistical infographic is made to digest complex figures. It is usually used to describe data collected from many sources and then summarize research findings or present survey results. To make a complete infographic, you need to combine text, charts and images into a design that turns the figures into something visual. It brings dry numbers to life and makes them more engaging and easier to absorb.

7. Process infographic

This type usually uses lines, arrows and shapes to describe the steps of a process from start to finish. It gives readers an overview of how a task or project gets done, along with detailed step-by-step guidance. Readers can follow each stage and know what they need to do, so they can plan accordingly.

8. Hierarchy infographic

A hierarchy infographic arranges information by level. The most familiar form is the pyramid, and there is also the organization chart. This type shows the different levels and how the items at those levels relate to each other.

9. Anatomical infographic

Are you a biology teacher? Do you want to illustrate the organs and structure of a subject? This type of infographic makes that easy. It makes full use of illustrations and can show exact positions with clear, detailed labeled diagrams.

10. Animated infographic

This is a static infographic with motion added. You can make an infographic more lively by adding interactive elements, transitions or color combinations that draw the reader's eye to the important information. There are 3 basic formats in this type: video, GIF and HTML5.

Why use infographics?

Engaging and important information

By combining information with creative design, your infographic becomes more distinctive and more eye-catching than words alone. Smart use of lines, color and layout helps readers tell what matters most, where to focus and how to take in the information effectively.

Draws viewers in

With an eye-catching presentation, an infographic quickly grabs the viewer's attention through its images, lines and colors. Even before viewers know what the infographic is about, they will stop at the design, whether on a phone screen or on paper.

Easy to reach

As people entered the age of Industry 4.0, the rapid growth of the Internet gave infographics a further boost. When you search for information, you will see infographics appear all the time, and you may even run into them printed on paper wherever you go. This makes information easier for readers to reach.

Easy to remember

An infographic's strength is its variety of color, detail and high contrast. Readers pick up the information faster and remember the visuals more easily than they would plain text.

Clear content

Because an infographic lays information out in an organized way, the message stays tidy and easy to follow. That avoids the misreadings that happen when people have to wade through a lot of text.

The infographic design process

You can design an attractive infographic in tools such as Illustrator, Inkscape or CorelDraw. But for the result to do what you planned, it helps to follow these steps:

Choose the infographic topic

First, decide what you want to say and on what topic. That tells you which elements you will need, such as the content, colors and layout. Choosing a topic is harder than it sounds. It is best to pick a specific field where you have plenty of knowledge to share with readers.

It is also hard to find a topic that is both appealing and one you know well. But when you know the field well, the information you give your audience is more reliable and more valuable. If you love food, for example, you will have plenty to say about the specialty dishes of each region.

Develop the idea

Next comes planning the idea. The point is to filter down the information, figures, images and wording that suit the infographic. It helps to sketch a rough layout first, so you are not overwhelmed by the amount of information and imagery once you start building.

>> See more:

• How to find ideas for original, engaging content
• What to do when you run out of ideas

Information gathering

Once the topic is settled, gather information from different sources, from books and newspapers to the internet. Using your initial idea and layout, pick out the figures, references and wording you need. The secret to a successful infographic is "the simpler, the better".

Design the infographic

Before you start designing, get your tools and information ready. For numbers, think about which chart type fits best. Color matters just as much, so choose colors that suit your audience.

If you want to make a video clip, don't pile on too many techniques. Use only what helps viewers take in the information more easily. When you add a voiceover, pay attention to the quality of the content, the voice and the speaking speed so viewers can follow along.

An infographic built as a web page is also a good option. It allows more interaction and can link several sources together, although it is less common at the moment.

Resolution and size also need attention. Readers often can't see the whole content because the exported quality is too low.

Promoting

When the infographic is finished, share it on social channels related to the topic (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and others) so more people see it.

How to design a striking infographic

Readers are drawn to your infographic when it is striking and original. So how do you make an infographic appealing?

Know what your target audience needs

An infographic is made to marketing campaign bring customers to your product or service, or to build your brand. So a business needs to research carefully what its customers really need and care about. Only then can the infographic be properly optimized and perform at its best on every platform.

Use icons and graphics

The strength of an infographic is that it uses images, icons and symbols to show content and information. Don't pack in too much text, or the infographic becomes cluttered and dull.

Easy-to-read fonts and colors

You want to stand out, but overdoing it backfires. What matters is what readers see and understand from the visuals.

Choose fonts that are clear and easy to read. Pick colors that fit and relate to your brand, and combine them in a balanced, consistent way.

Online infographic makers

Here are some free infographic tools you can try and use yourself at home:

• BeFunky
• Visme
• Snappa
• Google Charts

MONA hopes you now have a clearer idea of what an infographic is after reading this article. With their clear advantages, infographics are increasingly used in business marketing campaigns. Take in the tips MONA has shared and apply them to design infographics that people want to look at. Good luck!