What are the best practices for using fonts, icons, and shapes in your infographic?

1 Choose fonts that match your tone and purpose

Fonts can have a significant impact on how your audience perceives your infographic. They can express your tone, style, and personality, as well as emphasize your key points and hierarchy. Therefore, you should choose fonts that match your topic, audience, and goal. For example, if you want to create a professional and authoritative infographic, you might use a serif font like Times New Roman or Georgia. If you want to create a fun and casual infographic, you might use a sans serif font like Arial or Comic Sans. You can also use different fonts for different sections, such as titles, subtitles, body text, and captions, to create contrast and visual interest. However, avoid using too many fonts, as this can make your infographic look cluttered and confusing. A good rule of thumb is to limit yourself to two or three fonts per infographic.

2 Use icons that are clear and consistent

Icons are small graphic symbols that can represent concepts, actions, or objects in your infographic. They can help you save space, attract attention, and simplify complex information. However, you need to use icons that are clear and consistent, so that your audience can easily understand what they mean and how they relate to your data. For example, if you want to show the percentage of people who use different social media platforms, you might use icons that match the logos of each platform. If you want to show the steps of a process, you might use icons that follow a logical sequence and a common style. You can also use colors, shapes, and sizes to differentiate and group your icons. However, avoid using icons that are too detailed, abstract, or ambiguous, as this can confuse your audience and distract from your message.

3 Use shapes that are simple and effective

Shapes are geometric forms that can create boundaries, patterns, or backgrounds in your infographic. They can help you organize your data, highlight your main points, and add visual appeal. However, you need to use shapes that are simple and effective, so that they do not overpower or clash with your other elements. For example, if you want to create a pie chart, you might use a circle shape with different segments and colors. If you want to create a timeline, you might use a line shape with dots and labels. If you want to create a banner, you might use a rectangle shape with a gradient or a texture. You can also use shapes to create contrast, harmony, or balance in your infographic. However, avoid using shapes that are too complex, irregular, or distracting, as this can make your infographic look messy and unprofessional.