How to Make an Infographic: 3 Fast & Easy Ways for Non-Professionals
Making an infographic is not necessarily a designer's thing. Here are 3 fast and easy ways that even non-proffesionals can handle.
We all know how strong visual content is but some kinds of content earn more attention than others. Research by Taboola found that graphics generated 62% higher CTR than photographs on lifestyle topics, and 41% more on health, wellness and fitness topics. Considering the fact that infographics are basically info backed up with graphical data, this research clearly speaks of the power that infographics hold. Even if you are a non-professional, this should not stop you from leveraging this power. Today, we’ll talk about how to make an infographic easily and quickly, so let’s dig into the options.
Article overview:
1. Use a template
2. Use an online infographic builder
3. Use pre-made infographic elements
1. Use a template
A template is a great way to start if you have zero experience with creating infographics. Although this approach suggests little to no originality, ready-to-use templates usually contain a package of graphic elements including charts, icons, and more graphs that will help you visualize your data easily and fast. This option is suitable even for those who have never known how to make an infographic before. You will most likely just have to replace the dummy text with your own in pre-defined text placeholders and also, adjust the graphs according to your own data.
Most infographic templates available on the market come in file formats suitable for Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, or even PowerPoint, depending on your needs. Whether you prefer vector shapes, raster shapes, or simply need an infographic presentation design, there are plenty of infographic templates available out there – both premium and free. Let’s go through the pros and cons.
Pros:
- a quick solution for first-time infographic creators;
- a wide variety of premium and free infographic templates;
- super easy to start, just pick a template and fill in your info.
Cons:
- you’ll spend time looking for a template that meets your needs;
- there’s a big chance to see the same template used by someone else;
- you will probably need to modify the text to fit the template;
- not much room for creativity.
Suggestions for Adobe Illustrator:
A bundle of 10 free infographic designs by designer Mats-Peter Forss made in vector shapes.
Suggestions for Adobe Photoshop:
Here is a huge collection of beautiful Free Photoshop Infographic Templates which can save you time and effort.
A collection of 3 infographic designs, each presented in 3 different color schemes. Created by ZippyPixels.
Suggestions for PowerPoint:
A bundle of 15 free infographic templates made in different themes and colors. Created by HubSpot.
2. Use an online infographic builder
Online infographic makers are a good solution for those who need to produce infographics on a daily basis, or at least often enough. Most of these services usually offer monthly subscription plans depending on the individual needs. What is great about these tools is you don’t need to have professional skills to start working with any of them. Their interface is incredibly user-friendly, so you will learn how to make an infographic in no time. The handy options and drag-and-drop functions are very easy to understand for almost all users.
While all of these infographic builders offer free plans available for everyone, there are certain limitations like not being able to use your custom fonts and branding colors, not being able to export, not being able to exceed a certain amount of infographics per month, etc. The free plans for each online infographic tool are different, so make your research before starting. Now, let’s sum up the pros and cons.
Pros:
- a lot of online infographic builders to choose from;
- user-friendly interfaces and intuitive functions;
- rich libraries of elements;
- suitable for everyone – from non-professionals to professional designers.
Cons:
- significant limitations with free plans, ex. being unable to export, quantity restrictions, etc.;
- you’ll have to spend some time researching which builder is best for you;
- you might encounter other infographic designs similar to yours.
Here are several suggestions you might want to consider. All of these tools offer easy to work with interfaces, so even non-professional designers can start creating infographics right away. The differences come in the functionalities and the pricing. Otherwise, all of these tools will help you get the hang of how to create an infographic.
3. Use pre-made infographic elements
Among all options, this is the golden middle between being a designer and being a non-professional. Building up your own infographic with pre-made infographic elements gives you the freedom to experiment more, test out different styles and arrangements, without losing time designing the visual elements.
Vector infographic elements
However, you will still need some time digging out a pack of infographic elements that correspond to your needs. Most free options out there include only the basic charts, graphs, and icons, so in case you need a simple and quick infographic, you should be alright picking a free infographic pack. Premium options, on the other hand, provide much more room for creativity, as they come loaded with a rich diversity of elements. They usually allow you to create multiple infographic designs, which is why it’s worth investing if you are planning to make infographics on regular basis. Let’s go through the pros and cons once again.
Pros:
- a rich diversity of free and premium infographic packs;
- plenty of room for creativity;
- you do design work while saving precious time designing the elements themselves;
- suitable for multiple projects;
- can be used by everyone – from beginners to experienced people;
- you can use the elements for any infographic format and project.
Cons:
- usually, only basic elements are included in free packs;
- you need to have a certain experience with the appropriate software – Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, PowerPoint, etc.;
- you need to have a certain sense of visual aesthetics in order to be able to arrange the infographic in an eye-pleasing way.
Suggestions for Adobe Illustrator:
A collection of infographic elements in vector file format, designed in a clean business style. The pack contains the essential graphics you would need. Provided by Creativebooster.
Suggestions for Adobe Photoshop:
A pack of useful infographic elements is provided by FreePSDFiles. You will find line charts, 2D and 3D bar charts, pie and donut charts, area charts, and a timeline.
Suggestions for PowerPoint:
A collection of PowerPoint infographic elements presented by Showeet. This pack includes more than 40 customizable graphics and charts, which come in a convenient format for a PowerPoint presentation.
All set to start creating!
Learning how to design an infographic is not necessarily a process inherent to designers. Living in an era reigned by visual content, these days almost every content maker needs to know the basics of how to make an infographic. Luckily for you, there are enough tools and techniques that will help you get there. We hope we’ve been useful with the post. Looking forward to your advice, practical tips, and creations in the comments below. See ya!
You may also take a look at some of these related articles:
- How to Find Good Infographic Topics That Will Get You the Right Audience
- 50 Engaging Infographic Examples That Make Complex Ideas Look Great
- 50 Free Timeline Infographic Templates: Amazing Free Collection
