If a picture’s worth a thousand words, how many words is an infographic worth?

Chances are you’ve come across an infographic in either print or digital communication, but if you’re not quite sure: an infographic is a form of data visualization that pairs design, text, and data into one eye-catching visual. Here’s an exampleExit Disclaimer that also explains the components of a good infographic. Although infographics have been used for several years, they’re still a relatively new method of communicating information.

Why use Infographics for HIV Communication?
As we’ve mentioned previously, digital trends show that people prefer images (and video) to text. Social media platforms that favor images, like Instagram and Snapchat, are becoming more popular. The rise in images may be due to information overload: studies have foundExit Disclaimer that we receive 5x more information today than we did in 1986 and we consume 100,000 plus words outside of work every day. In addition, we’re visual creatures: researchers noteExit Disclaimer that color visuals help increase the willingness to read by 80%.  

By using infographics, you can harness the popularity of visuals and guide your audience through content, including complex or scientific information, in an engaging way. Whether an infographicExit Disclaimer is placed on your landing page, included in slideshows, displayed on social media, or sent in your email campaigns, there are many opportunities to deliver content in a visual way.

For inspiration, we’ve rounded up some examples from our partners in the HIV community:  

• CDC Infographics and Posters
• UNAIDS InfographicsExit Disclaimer
• The Body HIV Vaccines InfographicExit Disclaimer
• Doctors Without Borders Infographic: The Need For HIV and TB Treatment in MyanmarExit Disclaimer
•  AIDSinfo Infographic
• World Health Organization HIV/AIDS InfographicExit Disclaimer
• AIDSVu HIV InfographicsExit Disclaimer
• American Public Health Association HIV/AIDS Public Health InfographicExit Disclaimer

How can you create great infographics?
You don’t need to be a seasoned graphic designer to create eye-catching infographics. When it comes to creating your first infographic, here are some tipsExit Disclaimer:

• Keep it simple
• Keep it focused
• Make it easy to view
• Add white space
• Create a memorable headline

Tools
There are many free and low-cost design tools to choose from when creating your infographic; some examples include CanvaExit Disclaimer, VenngageExit Disclaimer, and PiktochartExit Disclaimer. All three offer free basic accounts. These user-friendly tools are pretty easy to learn—meaning you won’t have to spend too much time creating your graphics.

What trends should you watch for?
Just like social media, design trends often fade in and out. Looking for what’s hot now? We learned a lot from this roundupExit Disclaimer:

• Louder and brighter colors
• Bold typography
• Google fonts
• Authentic photos
• Hand-drawn graphics and icons
• Minimalism
• Useful GIFs
• Vibrant duotones

Want more information?
Check out our previous blog post on infographics. Interested in more of our tips, tricks, and insights into social media and digital communication? Make sure to sign up for our email updates to get our Digital Tools blog posts delivered straight to your inbox!