Design tips
Plan your infographic design
Our video on how to plan and create the perfect infographic is a great primer for those new to infographic design: Keep reading for more tips...
Use the right infographic layout for your data
Pick the best infographic layout for your data. There are hundreds of possible infographic templates out there to choose from. This quick video guide will help you pick the best type of infographic layout for your data: For example, you could use a one column layout for a minimal infographic, or create a list infographic by spitting the layout into two columns, like in these examples: Here's an example of a two-column infographic design: You can read a more in-depth article on selecting the right infographic template for your data in our blog post on How To Make an Infographic in 5 Steps. Return to Table of Contents
Be You
Finally, make sure you’re always looking inside yourself for inspiration. At the end of the day, you’re the one who’s guiding the design, and you know what’s best for attaining your vision. Trust your instincts, and know that you’re capable of nailing this next design for your client!
Apply hierarchy
The average human attention span is about 8 seconds, so it’s important to grab a user’s attention and direct them towards the main idea. Hierarchy in graphic design is creating a layout that guides the viewer towards what you are trying to convey. Use text, imagery, colors, and other techniques to highlight what is most important to your design.
Use icons
Icons are very simple in design but visually appealing. Using icons can extend beyond simply linking your Facebook or Twitter pages – try and get creative. It gives your page a sense of personality and flair. It’s an interactive element to your design that both increases the visual appeal while also engaging the user.
Be consistent
Being consistent with your design is one of the most important elements to letting everything come together. Visual elements can help guide the reader through to understanding the message or purpose of the design. Consistency captures people’s interests, so make sure you use the same color schemes, fonts, alignment techniques, and art styles.
Utilize flat design
Just because designers have the tools to create crazy 3D designs, doesn’t mean that that’ll always be the most appropriate decision. Sometimes using flat, 2D designs will do the trick. It’s becoming more and more appealing to designers, and is a relatively accessible tool for beginners as well.
Track your text
An overlooked aspect of letters and fonts in graphic design is spacing in between each letter. Kerning, or the adjustment of space between two characters, should be a major concern for designers, as letters too close together can make something look clustered. Some fonts have weird spacing by default, but most software should let you play around with the spacing. Let those letters breathe.
Clear and crisp imagery
Speaking of imagery, make sure you select high resolution images that fit the tone of the design while being pleasing to look at. Similar to how you can make the text on top of an image more transparent, you can also increase the brightness of the image underneath to further enhance the contrast. This allows both your image to be clearer and your text to be more legible.
Use big letters
Laying big letters on top of an image can create a sense of scale for your design. Increasing font size and decreasing letter height can also box your letters in the frame. Make sure the placement of the text is pleasing to look at, and that there’s symmetry with the image. You can also play around with the text’s transparency against a large image.