Design tips

This is going to sound cliché, but when it comes designing infographics, it will probably take your a couple of goes at it to get the hang of it. You will need to figure out what works in a design and what doesn't. Luckily, this learning process is made a lot easier by infographic templates and guide. And there are certainly a lot of examples out there for you to draw inspiration from. When in doubt, ask someone else to look over your design before you publish it--they will be able to tell you if there is any information that is unclear, or if there is any way that you could make your design even better. Return to Table of Contents Read our step-by-step guide to creating infographics:

Negative space is the blank space surrounding objects in a design. Negative space has a big impact on your design. If your infographic design is too crowded, it can overwhelm readers and make it difficult to read the information. Creating space around the elements in your design allows readers the breathing room to process the information. Pro tip: if you are using a 16pt size, the line height should be no less than 1.2. Leaving negative space can be as simple as making sure there is enough space between lines of text. Just look at the difference that a little space makes in the example below:

In order for your infographic design to flow from start to finish, the design elements need to be consistent. If you are using icons that are filled in, rather than line art icons, then keep using the same style throughout the entire infographic. The same goes for the style of images you use, the font style, and the color palette. This will prevent your infographic from looking cluttered, and will actually make it easier to read. Confused about how to use icons properly in your infographic? Our video will teach you in under 3 minutes: Return to Table of Contents

Decide on a color scheme before creating your infographic. A good rule of thumb is to design your infographic with two or three main colors, and to use minor color accents. When choosing your color scheme, decide on the tone of your infographic. Is it a business infographic? If so, try using neutral colors like blue or green, or, of course, your brand colors, especially if you're including your logo. For fun, eye popping infographics, use brighter hues, but be careful not to use large amounts dark or neon colors as they can be straining to the eyes when viewed on the web. Color can also be used as a sectional tool. Add blocks of color to section your infographic, giving the eye some breathing room as viewers scroll down. Source. Here are a couple of helpful tools on the web to help you choose a color palette: Adobe Color CC LOLColors COLOURlovers Return to Table of Contents

An infographic with visual balance is pleasing to the eyes because everything fits together seamlessly. A balanced infographic keeps the entire composition cohesive, especially in a long form infographic. If there are heavy visuals on the top of an infographic, you should keep the flow going right to the bottom. There are two types of balance: symmetrical and asymmetrical. Symmetrical balance is when each side of the composition has equal weight. This layout is effective in a comparison infographic like this one: Asymmetrical balance is more natural and less uniform than a symmetrical composition. It creates a more complex relationship between objects. It can make an infographic more dynamic since the composition is not repeated excessively. For example, if you are creating timeline infographics, alternate text between both sides of the timeline for a balanced composition. Check out these creative timeline templates. Return to Table of Contents

The use of photography can be tricky if there is not a photographer available to take the shots of exactly what you need. There are ways to work around not having a photographer at hire by incorporating stock photos that are royalty free from places like Pixabay, Unsplash or Pikwizard. The only risk is that using stock images can look uncreative and, frankly, cheesy. That's why you need to take care when deciding which images to use. Be sure that the photos you use have a consistent style and lighting. Try to pick photos with the same lighting effects, same backdrops, same amount of dark areas, etc. It's important to stick to a certain style as images that clearly don’t fit the set will distract from the information being communicated. If you're going for a simple modern use of photography, use only images with flat colour (or white) backdrops. If you're going for a neutral newspaper approach, use only black and white images. Source. Photos that take up a majority of space in your infographic, which can distract from information. This issue can be solved by using a cropping such as circle frames. Return to Table of Contents

It’s better to design your website to be mobile-friendly and adaptable to multiple screen display sizes from the get-go. After all, people prefer using their mobile devices to browse the web and shop online. If you don’t design your website to be mobile-friendly, shoppers are bound to have poor user experiences with your site, which can seriously hurt your conversions and sales. Also, mobile-friendliness is one of Google’s ranking factors. This means the more your website meets Google’s requirements, the better your web page’s chances of ranking higher in search results. Follow these quick tips when designing a mobile-friendly website:

• Avoid using dual websites. Instead of creating separate websites for desktop and mobile, use one URL for both to improve your search traffic.
• Ensure proper font and button sizes. Ensure your texts and buttons are easy for mobile users to see, read, and click on smaller display screens. Keep your font sizes to a minimum of 14PX (11 points for iOs) and your buttons at 44PX by 44 PX. Use one typeface and utilize white space for better readability.
• Don’t use Flash. Flash doesn’t work on most mobile devices and drains resources so you’re better off staying away from it. However, remember to make your image, CSS, and JavaScript files available to Google via the Google Search Console. Additionally, ensure you use high-resolution images and photos for your website. If shoppers have to squint or keep zooming in to see smaller details in your product photos, they’re bound to have a poor user experience — which won’t help convert them into buyers.

Neutral colors will always be timeless and classic, but sometimes it’s nice to add just a little something to your mainly white, beige and gray color scheme.  If you don’t want to do anything too bold, adding a “pop of color” is the way to go. It’s a tried and true way of enhancing an otherwise neutral space. Whether it’s on a pair of pillows, the lining of a bookshelf or the wall, a splash of unexpected color can really change the focal point of any room without getting into a major decorating project. It’s also a fun way to show off your personality without going overboard. If you want to go a more unconventional route, Paintzen suggests, “If you’re looking for something slightly more high-end, consider a more decorative paint job! Try a colorful Chevron pattern in a child’s bedroom, or stencil stars for a dreamy nursery. Try a faux finish in the dining room for a regal, sophisticated feel, or a sports mural in your husband’s man cave. There is so much you can do to create a space that is extremely exciting and unique, and all it takes is some paint.” If you’re working with a smaller room, you can also add patterned wallpaper. Wallpaper Boulevard recommends patterned wallpaper because it makes the room feel and appear larger.