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AEEE 2011 & 3011 Public Engagement Strategies for Agricultural Research: Visual Literacy

This course guide is for students in the AEEE 3011 Public Engagement Strategies for Agricultural Research class.

Communicating Science through Images

Examples of Infographics

Infographics

Things to consider when creating an infographic from Simki Dutta at Venngage.

There are several types of infographics. The layout you choose will depend on the goal of your infographic. Here are some of the most popular types of infographics and their uses:

1. Start by determining your visualization goal.

What do you want to tell people about your topic? Who is your audience?

  • Inform (icon charts, donut charts, etc.)
  • Compare (bar chart, bubble chart, etc.)
  • Highlight change (line chart, area chart, etc.)
  • Organize (numbered lists, tables, etc.)
  • Show correlations (scatter plots, etc.)

2. Gather your data. 

Know your sources. The quality of the data is more important than quantity. Why is this important? Who cares?

3. Once you've selected the correct chart or graph, adhere to the design best practices.

  • Start the chart axes at zero.
  • Remove distractions and non-data links.
  • Label your lines and bars
  • Don't manipulate or cherry-pick data
  • Don't go text crazy. Infographics should contain three main things: the Title of the infographic, a brief introduction on the topic or addressing the pain point, and a breakdown of the main content into sections. 

4. Sketchy First!

Draw it all out. Having a rough draft on paper helps create your infographic digitally.

5. Design It! 

Don't be afraid to start with a design site or a template.

 Use color as a function, and be careful not to make it too busy or difficult to understand.

  • Avoid using the same color to represent different data points. 
  • Avoid too many clashing colors. 
  • Try to use color logically. Darker colors traditionally represent larger numbers. 
  • Pick a color scheme and avoid using more than two to three primary colors. 
  • Don't be afraid to use shades and tints of color to denote different aspects of a topic. 
  • Ensure your background images don't clash with the text or other elements. 

Avoid using too many fonts.

  • Stick to two or three and try to pair them together. Having two different fonts may cause more confusion than necessary.

Strive to create a visual hierarchy. 

  • A good infographic can help us determine where to look first. If your graph doesn't have a central focal point, the graph can be confusing or even misleading. 

Resources for Creating Infographics

Other Resourcs