Design compelling infographics with Canva

An infographic is a portmanteau of the words ‘information’ and ‘graphics.’ In a nutshell, it is a visual communication tool that uses graphics and patterns to present data or information in a way that’s faster and easier to understand and retain. This visual form takes advantage of our highly visual mode of learning and our innate ability to see and recognize patterns and trends.

An effective infographic should contain the following:

1. High-quality graphics

2. Up-to-date and relevant data

3. A highly organized structure

4. A good balance of text and graphics

Ensure that your infographic breathes – don’t crowd it with graphics, charts, illustrations, and text. Stick to a consistent font selection that’s easy to read. And lastly, include a compelling call-to-action.

This depends on the type of data you want to present. Below is a quick sample of different types of data and the chart or graph you can use for them:

To compare data across different categories:

- Bar graph

- Line chart

- Comparison chart

To show parts of a whole at a glance:

- Pie chart

- Donut chart

For project management:

- Gantt chart

- Cycle diagram

- Ecomap

For brainstorming:

- Bubble map

- Concept map

- Mind map

Here are just some of the things to keep in mind when creating infographics as a data visualization tool:

1. Speak to your audience. This means knowing what matters to them and why the data you’re presenting aligns with this. This gives your data visualization a specific purpose.

2. Choose the right visuals. Know when to use charts and graphs. Use high-contrast colors to make your data easier to understand at a glance, even for viewers who may have visual impairments.

3. Keep it simple. The goal of data visualization is to present hard data in an easily digestible format. So keep your embellishments to a minimum.

4. Engage your audience until the very end. If you know your audience, it will be easy for you to keep your infographics compelling. The key to keep in mind is always to ask yourself: why does this data matter to my audience?

You can print an infographic as high-quality eco-conscious rack cards. But if you want to print it in a bigger format like a poster, upgrade to Canva Pro so you can use Magic Switch, which will resize your design with just one click.

The One Print, One Tree initiative is just one of the ways we are making our printing solutions more sustainable, as part of doing the most good that we can through our Two-Step Plan. So, how does it work? Simple: for every print order you make with us, we will plant one tree. For more information, visit here.