Infographics: Graphic Visual Representations of Information
The Seven Common Types of Infographics
Infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data, or knowledge intended to present information quickly and clearly. Utilizing graphics enhances our ability as humans to recognize patterns and trends and improves cognition. Infographics are made up of three primary elements, the visual, the content, and knowledge. Useful infographics are well designed, they tell a good story, and they are easy to interpret and understand. They combine written words with visual elements to present a significant amount of information in a clear and organized manner.
After completing your research and collecting your data, you need to determine how to demonstrate and communicate your results to your audience clearly. What better way than through an infographic? So, which infographic design will best represent and communicate your information? Below are seven common types of infographics to consider as you think about your infographic design.
List Infographic
The list infographic supports a claim through a series of steps. It is best used to support a specific claim or argument. Your list can go from top to bottom, left to right, or it can move across your canvas. List infographics are one of the most straightforward types of infographics as they engage readers and help them to remember information.
Comparison or Vs. Infographic
The comparison of Vs. Infographic compares two things in a head-to-head study and is typically used to communicate the pros and cons of a product. It is best used to highlight differences between two similar things or highlight similarities between two unlike things. The comparison infographic allows you to display two factors side by side to allow readers to take in all the essential elements and make their comparison in moments. It is also used to prove how one option is superior or inferior to the other option.
Flowchart Infographic
The flowchart infographic provides a specific answer to reader choices and is excellent for showing a process or decision making. It is best used to offer personalized responses to readers, to show how multiple situations can reach the same conclusion, or to display a process flow of your logistic sequence.
Visual Article Infographic
The visual article infographic makes writing more visual. It is best used to cut down on text or make an essay more interesting and enjoyable to consume. It also increases sharing potential as a visual article infographic takes a significant amount of information and presents it visually and enjoyably.
Map Infographic
The map infographic showcases data trends based on location. It is best used to compare places, culture, and people through setting centric data and demographics. A map infographic is used to convey information that is based on location in a visual manner to enhance engagement and comprehension.
Timeline Infographic
The timeline infographic tells a story through a chronological flow. A timeline infographic helps to create a clearer image of a specific timeframe. It is best used to show how something has changed over time or make a long-complicated story easier to understand. These infographics are used to visualize history, highlight essential dates, or display a project timeline.
Data Visualization Infographic
A data visualization infographic communicates data through charts and graphs. It showcases data through design by incorporating pic charts, bar graphs, and line graphs with visual graphics to disclose relevant information. It Is best used to make data-driven arguments easier to understand and makes facts or statistics more enjoyable to absorb.
Infographics are a great tool to communicate information quickly and clearly through graphic visuals, imagery, charts, and minimal texts. They are meant to limit the use of written text by using graphics to engage with your audience and present relevant information visually. Now that you have a basic understanding of the seven commonly used infographics, which type of infographic will you use to represent your information best?
