Planning the Infographic BOBBY WAN Design Goals Every

Planning the Infographic BOBBY WAN

Design Goals Every design is/was created to serve a specific goal, or with a specific end in mind. It is important to remember that each design has a specific purpose and reason why there a need to communicate to the audience was there. Information Identifies and/or informs the audience of a topic, an idea or a product. Editorial Publications such as newspapers and magazines. Promotion Promotes the use of a product, an idea or a concept. Commercial Advertises the sale of a product or item.

Planning the Infographic! MESSSAGE DATA AUDIENCE GOALS Here's a great idea for an infographic. These are the points we want to make. Let's examine the data and see if the data supports it. These are the people and/or the target demographic we want to reach. This is what we want to happen after the graphic is viewed.

What are the audience needs? Profession Ethnicity Locale Age Gender Religion Audience Special interests

Setting Goals SPECIFIC clear about what, where, when, and how the situation will be changed MEASURABLE able to quantify the targets and benefits ATTAINABLE able to attain the stated objectives (being aware of available resources and capacities) REALISTIC able to obtain the level of change reflected in the objective TIME-BOUND stating the time period in which they will each be accomplished

SEVEN Do’s and Don’t’s of infographic design 1. Show, don’t tell You don’t want your infographic to feel like a novel; after all, infographics are all about presenting information visually. Keep your use of text to a minimum and use illustrations as much as possible

Do’s and Don’t’s of infographic design 2. Focus on the story Stories usually have a protagonist. They also have a beginning, a middle, and an end. While the medium is different, infographics also need to have these elements. Frame your infographic so it’s clear what issue or challenge it addresses and what the audience needs to do after viewing it

Do’s and Don’t’s of infographic design 3. Think beyond the traditional Bar and pie charts will always have their place, but the most successful infographics tell the story differently. Besides, If the client wanted an bunch of charts that could just as easily be created in Excel, they not need to the services of great designers. Sad and harsh, but true.

Do’s and Don’t’s of infographic design The best infographics minimize the use of traditional charts, opting to use photos, illustrations, and other visually compelling elements instead. In the above example, which do you think is better for the client?

Do’s and Don’t’s of infographic design 4. Use a colour palette that complements each other The last thing you want is an infographic with clashing colours, with people scratching their eyes out or scurrying for the door! Try to stay with three to four colours at most, and try to use harmonious colours. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to picking colours!

Do’s and Don’t’s of infographic design 5. Avoid a white background Most websites have white backgrounds, so using that same colour as your background will make it difficult for people to decipher where your infographics begin and where it ends.

Do’s and Don’t’s of infographic design 6. Keep it clean and simple People will find it easier to digest and retain information if you’re not cramming too much information and too many design details in one infographic. The Chinese have a saying – 一目了然 (yī mù liăo rán, “at a glance”) – which is very applicable in this context. If your infographic cannot convey its message within the first few minutes of viewing, you have lost the plot

Do’s and Don’t’s of infographic design 7. Edit and edit some more Use very minimal copy; it’s not called an infographic for nothing!