How do you design a compelling infographic for a complex topic?

1 Know your purpose and audience

Before you start designing your infographic, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and who you want to reach. What is the main message or goal of your infographic? Who are you trying to inform, persuade, or educate? How familiar are they with the topic and the data? How will they access and use your infographic? These questions will help you define the scope, tone, and format of your infographic, as well as the type and amount of data and text you will include.

2 Choose the right type of infographic

Depending on your purpose and audience, you may want to use different types of infographics to present your data and information. For example, you can use a timeline infographic to show the history or evolution of a topic, a process infographic to explain the steps or stages of a phenomenon, a comparison infographic to contrast two or more options or scenarios, or a statistical infographic to highlight key facts and figures. You can also combine different types of infographics to create a more comprehensive and dynamic visual story.

3 Organize your data and information

Once you have decided on the type of infographic you want to create, you need to organize your data and information in a logical and coherent way. You can use a simple outline or a wireframe to plan the structure and layout of your infographic, and decide how to group and sequence your data and information. You should also consider how to use visual elements, such as colors, shapes, icons, charts, and images, to enhance your data and information, and create contrast, hierarchy, and flow. You should avoid cluttering your infographic with too much data and information, and focus on the most relevant and impactful ones.

4 Write clear and concise text

Text is an important component of your infographic, as it provides context, explanation, and emphasis to your data and information. However, you should use text sparingly and strategically, and avoid overwhelming your audience with too much text. You should write clear and concise headlines, subheadings, captions, labels, and callouts, and use simple and direct language that your audience can understand. You should also use active voice, present tense, and positive tone, and check your spelling and grammar.

5 Test and refine your infographic

Before you publish or share your infographic, you should test and refine it to make sure it meets your purpose and audience's needs and expectations. You can ask for feedback from your colleagues, friends, or target audience, and see if they can understand, remember, and appreciate your infographic. You can also use online tools, such as eye-tracking or heat maps, to analyze how your audience interacts with your infographic, and identify any areas of improvement. You should revise your infographic based on the feedback and analysis, and make sure it is clear, accurate, and engaging.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?