Want to make an idea stick with your customers or clients? Infographics are one of the best ways to cut through the noise and make your message heard, particularly when it comes to emails, where the competition for people’s attention is fierce. And we practice what we preach, regularly creating custom-designed infographics as part of our email newsletter.
So this week, we’re celebrating some of the best ones we made for ourselves this year in a post you’ll never forget.
But before we get to the designs, let’s quickly look at a few key principles that will help make your next infographic or data visualization stand out.
Tip #1: One idea per infographic
Infographics excel at using visuals to convey information. But the more you try to convey, the more work your audience has to do to find your takeaway. So rather than trying to say it all at once, use each infographic or data visualization to focus on a single, clear idea.
Tip #2: Tell a story
With visual storytelling, all of the parts of a design work to support the main idea. In the examples below, you’ll see that the icons, shapes, and other design elements are chosen to support (and add to) the story the image is telling. Essentially, you want to avoid anything that’s purely decorative to make sure it doesn't distract from your message.
Tip #3: Add some color
Color is a powerful tool in infographic design. As in presentations, it’s useful for things like creating hierarchy and relationships between content, and you can do the same with an infographic. You can also highlight your brand colors to reinforce your message and branding. But really, infographics work best when they are fun to look at, and colors make images exciting.
Update (02/24): we’ve revised this article to add some new tips on creating stronger infographics and data visualizations
Looking for more information about presentation visuals and beyond? Check out our resources for expert advice and tested strategies.
About the author
Danielle John is the founder of VerdanaBold. She has more than 25 years as an award-winning designer and creative lead, directing the visual expression and production of thousands of high-value new business pitches, C-level presentations and internal presentations for major global brands. When she’s not busy at VerdanaBold, she can be found antique shopping and spending time with her husband and two kids.
