Infographics & Data Visualization

Some information is just easier to understand visually. Numbers, processes, comparisons, timelines—these concepts click faster when you can see them rather than read them.

This guide covers how to turn your data, processes, and complex information into clear infographics.

Infographic Types

Standard Infographic (4:5)

Vertical format that works well on social media and as a standalone visual. Good for summarizing key information in a scrollable format.

Best for:

• Research summaries
• Survey results
• How-to overviews
• Fact collections
• Industry statistics

Long Infographic (9:19)

Extended vertical format for more detailed information. Great for step-by-step content that needs more space.

Best for:

• Detailed processes
• Comprehensive guides
• Timeline content
• In-depth comparisons
• Content that tells a longer story

Process Flow

Visualizes a sequence of steps or a workflow. Shows how something moves from start to finish.

Best for:

• How things work
• Workflow documentation
• Customer journeys
• Decision trees
• Project phases

Comparison Chart

Side-by-side visualization of options, features, or concepts. Helps people make decisions or understand differences.

Best for:

• Product comparisons
• Plan/pricing breakdowns
• Before/after scenarios
• Pros and cons
• Feature matrices

Timeline

Chronological visualization of events, milestones, or historical progression.

Best for:

• Company history
• Project milestones
• Industry evolution
• Event sequences
• Progress tracking

Checklist

Visual task list or criteria list. Scannable and actionable.

Best for:

• To-do guides
• Requirements lists
• Audit criteria
• Getting started guides
• Quality checklists

Structuring Data for Infographics

The quality of your infographic depends on how well you structure the input. Here's how to set up different types:

For Statistics and Numbers

Topic: State of Remote Work 2025

Key statistics:
- 73% of workers prefer hybrid arrangements
- Remote workers save average of $4,500/year on commuting
- 89% report same or higher productivity
- 45% of companies now offer permanent remote options

Source: Annual Workplace Survey, 2025
Sample size: 5,000 professionals across 12 industries

For Processes

Process: Customer Onboarding Flow

Steps:
1. Welcome email sent (automated, immediate)
2. Account setup call scheduled (within 24 hours)
3. Initial configuration completed (during call)
4. Training session delivered (week 1)
5. First check-in call (week 2)
6. Success review (day 30)

Goal: Time to value under 14 days

For Comparisons

Comparison: Basic vs Premium vs Enterprise Software

Basic ($29/month):
- Core features
- Email support
- 5 user seats
- Standard integrations

Premium ($79/month):
- Advanced features
- Priority support
- 25 user seats
- Custom integrations
- Analytics dashboard

Enterprise (Custom):
- Unlimited features
- Dedicated support
- Unlimited users
- Custom development
- SSO and security

For Timelines

Timeline: Company Growth Milestones

Year 1:
- Product launched
- First 100 customers
- Seed funding secured

Year 2:
- Team expanded to 20
- Series A raised
- International expansion

Year 3:
- 10,000 customers reached
- New product line launched
- Industry award won

Year 4:
- Platform redesign
- International expansion
- New integrations

From Documents to Infographics

Reports and Whitepapers

Reports are perfect source material for infographics. They already contain structured data and findings.

What to extract:

• Executive summary points
• Key statistics and data
• Main findings or conclusions
• Recommendations
• Trend data

Example: A 30-page market research report becomes a single infographic with the top 10 findings, key stats, and main recommendations.

Presentations

Presentation decks often contain data visualizations that can be enhanced and standalone.

What to extract:

• Data slides
• Process diagrams
• Comparison tables
• Key framework slides

Internal Documentation

Process documentation, SOPs, and internal guides translate well to visual formats.

What to extract:

• Step-by-step procedures
• Decision criteria
• Checklists and requirements
• Workflow diagrams

Data Visualization Best Practices

Keep It Focused

One infographic = one main idea. Don't try to cram everything into a single visual. If you have multiple topics, create multiple infographics.

Lead with the Most Interesting Point

Put your most compelling statistic or insight at the top. That's what hooks people and makes them keep scrolling.

Use Visual Hierarchy

Not all information is equally important. Make key points larger, use color to highlight critical data, and let supporting details be smaller.

Round Numbers When Appropriate

"Nearly 75%" is often more memorable than "74.3%". Unless precision matters for your context, round for readability.

Cite Your Sources

Especially for statistics and research findings. It adds credibility and lets interested readers dig deeper.

Consider the Share Context

Infographics get shared. Will yours make sense without additional context? Can someone understand the main point at a glance?

Platform Optimization

For Social Media

• Standard infographic format works on most platforms
• Ensure text is readable on mobile
• Strong visual hook at the top
• Brand your infographic (people will share it)

For Presentations

• Higher resolution for projection
• Simpler layouts that work at a distance
• Key points that support what you're saying

For Reports and Documents

• Print-ready resolution
• Consistent with document styling
• Can be more detailed since readers can zoom/study

For Websites

• Consider responsive display
• Optimize file size for load times
• Alt text for accessibility

Editing Infographics

After your infographic is ready, you might want to refine it:

Common edits:

• "Make the title more prominent"
• "Increase the contrast on the statistics"
• "Simplify the color palette"
• "Add more white space between sections"
• "Make the data points larger"

For data accuracy:

• "Change the third statistic to 78%"
• "Update the timeline to show Q3 instead of Q2"
• "Fix the comparison—Pro should show 500, not 300"

Examples in Action

Survey Results → Infographic

Input: Customer satisfaction survey with 15 questions and 500 responses

Output: Infographic highlighting:

• Overall satisfaction score (hero stat)
• Top 5 things customers love
• Top 3 areas for improvement
• Year-over-year comparison
• Notable quotes from open-ended responses

Process Documentation → Process Flow

Input: Employee onboarding procedure document (10 pages)

Output: Visual process flow showing:

• Pre-start preparation
• Day 1 activities
• Week 1 milestones
• 30/60/90 day checkpoints
• Key contacts and resources

Competitive Analysis → Comparison Chart

Input: Competitive analysis document comparing 4 products

Output: Side-by-side comparison showing:

• Feature matrix
• Pricing comparison
• Strengths and weaknesses
• Best fit recommendations

Ready to visualize your data? Upload your report, documentation, or paste your statistics into Create Visual and select Infographic, Comparison Chart, or Process Flow format.