Words, words, words. Then suddenly: Pictures! In a content-heavy white paper (and they should be content-heavy!) a solid visual can help readers find their way. More than just a break from all those dense paragraphs, a graphic element can actually shed a new and different light on the subject matter, expanding the reader’s understanding in new directions.
But you've got finesse it. Love pie charts, love them! But an infographic ought to be something more. Think of it as visual storytelling. And how best to tell that story...?
Keep it clean: An infographic should be easy to access, a visual treat that can be readily understood. Minimal text, bold lines, lots of white space. Tell the story with big numbers, clean images, simple icons. Don’t clutter up the space or try to say too much.
Watch for flow: A winning infographic leads the eye. Rather than a single visual block, an infographic tells a story, guiding the reader to an ever-expanding awareness. This should happen naturally and intuitively, typically from top to bottom. That’s the “flow” that every designer tries to build into his or her work. The narrative journey is what distinguishes a powerful infographic from just another bar graph.
Where credit is due: Discreetly, but quite visibly, call out the sources for your data. This can be done with an asterisk and a simple citation in small print, but it’s important that it be done. Sourcing gives the infographic weight and credibility: It’s the validation that makes this more than just a pretty picture. Your white paper seeks to convey authoritative knowledge; your infographic needs to back up that message.
But you've got finesse it. Love pie charts, love them! But an infographic ought to be something more. Think of it as visual storytelling. And how best to tell that story...?
Keep it clean: An infographic should be easy to access, a visual treat that can be readily understood. Minimal text, bold lines, lots of white space. Tell the story with big numbers, clean images, simple icons. Don’t clutter up the space or try to say too much.
Watch for flow: A winning infographic leads the eye. Rather than a single visual block, an infographic tells a story, guiding the reader to an ever-expanding awareness. This should happen naturally and intuitively, typically from top to bottom. That’s the “flow” that every designer tries to build into his or her work. The narrative journey is what distinguishes a powerful infographic from just another bar graph.
Where credit is due: Discreetly, but quite visibly, call out the sources for your data. This can be done with an asterisk and a simple citation in small print, but it’s important that it be done. Sourcing gives the infographic weight and credibility: It’s the validation that makes this more than just a pretty picture. Your white paper seeks to convey authoritative knowledge; your infographic needs to back up that message.
