Information design: definition, tips & examples

Information design is everywhere. From public transportation maps to advertisements and infographics. It takes a crucial part in conveying information in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand way. Instead of displaying a dry spreadsheet with data on dental hygiene, you can share the same information in a visually attractive infographic that helps your target audience understand the data better. Ultimately, with great information design practices, you can convey complex information in an attractive and meaningful way, and speak to your audience more effectively.

Data visualizations serve a similar purpose – transform data into a visually appealing and easily understandable format. However, there is a distinct difference between data visualization and information design. In this article, we’ll dive into information design, how it differentiates from data visualization, great information design examples, and the best practices you should follow to make anything you want to share attractive to your target audience. 

Click to jump ahead:
What is information design?
Difference between information design and data visualization
The importance of a good information design
Information design process
Information design tips
Information design examples
Conclusion

What is information design?

Before differentiating information design from data visualization, let’s first define what it is. Information design is a branch of graphic design. It’s the process of designing and creating documents and other materials that communicate information effectively. It involves the use of typography, layout, color, and other visual elements to convey information in a way that is both efficient and easy to understand. 

Good information design makes complex information easier to grasp and more enjoyable to read. It can also help to reduce the amount of text by making use of white space, illustrations, and infographics.

When designing any kind of document, it’s important to keep your audience in mind. What are their needs? What level of understanding do they have? 

Answering these questions will help you create materials that are not only informative but also visually appealing and effective at communicating your message.

Difference between information design and data visualization

At first glance, “information design” and “data visualization” concepts sound identical – they both deal with shaping information to your needs. While both deal with the presentation of information, there are some key differences between the two.

Information design is focused on creating clear and concise messages that are easy for viewers to understand. This discipline often makes use of typography, layout, and color to guide users through complex information. 

Data visualization, on the other hand, is more concerned with representing data in a visually appealing way. This can be achieved through charts, graphs, and other visual representations of data.

So which concept should you apply? It really depends on your goals. If you want to communicate a message clearly and efficiently, then information design is the way to go. If you want to make data more accessible and engaging, then data visualization is the better option.

The importance of a good information design

When it comes to creating visually appealing information, design is important for a number of reasons. First, a good design can help you make complex information more understandable and accessible. Second, well-designed information is more likely to be noticed and remembered. Last but not least, a good design adds value to your content and makes it more persuasive.

Ultimately, good information design is essential for effective communication. By understanding the basics of an effective information design and applying them to your own use case, you can ensure that your message is clear, concise, and easy to comprehend.

Information design process

If you’re working on a project that involves designing visual information, it’s important to follow a process to ensure that your designs are effective and appealing. Here’s an overview of the steps involved in the information design process:

1. Define the goals of the design

Before generating ideas, you want to establish the goal of your design. Ask yourself: What are you trying to communicate? Who is the audience? How do you want this information to be read? Define a goal and keep your target audience in mind. 

2. Brainstorm ideas and sketches 

Now that you’ve set up a goal for your design, it’s time to get creative and try to come up with as many ideas as possible. Approach the design from different points, and try to step out of the box. Also, looking up examples of good information designs will help you generate more interesting ideas. However, try not to get too attached to one idea at this stage – you want to keep the doors open for possible changes you’ll have to make to your initial idea.

3. Research and refine your ideas

After a good brainstorming session, you want to narrow down your idea list to a couple of ideas that stood out for you. Now set those ideas next to you as you do some research on your chosen topic. Afterward, start refining your ideas based on what you’ve learned.

4. Create drafts and prototypes 

It’s time to put your ideas and research to work. Start creating drafts of your layout design online or on paper, and experiment with various ways of displaying the information. Recognize what looks good and is easy to read and understand – the goal is to have a visually appealing and effective layout of your information design. 

5. Test and evaluate your designs 

A great way to ensure your information design appeals to others is simply asking for feedback. Ask how effective the design is at communicating its intended message. After collecting the feedback, make adjustments as needed

Information design tips

When it comes to information design, there are a few best practices that you should always keep in mind. From an appealing layout to an attractive color scheme, you need to make sure that your design serves your goal. Here is a list of information design tips you should follow for the best results.

Less is more 

First and foremost, your designs should be clear and easy to understand. Cluttered design can distract and overwhelm the viewer while a complex or inappropriate style of language can put people off. Use simple language and avoid jargon whenever possible. Also, make sure to have enough blank space between visuals and text to make the information easier to understand. 

Appeal to the eye

According to research, 55% of first impressions are made by visual appearance. And it only takes a few seconds for someone to start making assumptions based on this visual representation. This statistic amplifies the importance of visual appeal. That’s why making sure your designs are visually appealing and easy on the eyes is crucial. To create visually attractive designs, use colors and fonts that are easy to read, and break up long paragraphs with visual elements like headings and images. 

Logical layout

How the information is arranged on the page or screen can have a significant impact on its legibility and clarity. A good layout ensures that the most important information is easy to find and follow. That’s why you should ensure everything is aligned properly and flows in a logical order. Think about how you want the viewer to read the information presented and in what order – this will help you identify the visual hierarchy in your design. 

Choice of typography

The choice of font and how it is used can also affect the legibility and clarity of information. Use clear, easily readable fonts for body text, and limit the use of decorative fonts to headlines or short blocks of text. Also, make sure the font style suits the overall feel of your company’s brand or culture and is appealing to your target audience. 

Effective use of color

Color helps organize information, highlight important points, or add visual interest. To emphasize points or draw attention to specific information, make sure to use contrasting colors. For example, if your color palette consists of shades of green, use a bit of red throughout the design to spotlight important information. Also, when using color in your designs, always consider how it will impact the readability of the text. Don’t use too much color in body text and ensure the color palette you use isn’t distracting or overwhelming for the viewer. Remember tip number one – less is more. 

Intentional use of images

Images are great for breaking up large blocks of text, adding visual interest, or illustrating concepts. Using the right type of imagery will add contextual value to your information design and draw attention to the primary idea/s you’re trying to communicate. When using images, be sure to choose high-quality photos that are relevant to the topic at hand. Also, always remember to cite the image sources.

Visualization of data

Using charts, graphs, and other visual representations enriches the information design and makes data easier to understand at the first glance. Data visualizations come together with information design to make the materials easier to read, understand, and interpret. 

By following these tips, you can create beautiful and effective information designs that will engage your audience and help them understand your message.

Information design examples

There are many different ways to approach information design, and the best way depends on the data you’re working with and the goals you hope to achieve. If you’re looking for great information design examples that you can reuse, here are a few to get inspired by.

Conference information poster design

The conference poster design is a great example of visual hierarchy and the use of color. The title is immediately noticeable because of its font size, while the call-to-action stands out due to the contrasting green color and center placement. Also, the microphone icon catches attention and adds a visual cue. Consequently, in the first few seconds, the viewer is met with the title of the conference, the speakers, and where to sign up. 

Sports results infographic

The sports infographic displays country-specific data in different competition areas. The information design is visually rich and draws attention to what matters most – the sports results placed at the center of the infographic. Also, the design breaks up information with images that add contextual value. On top of that, the use of color corresponds to the U.S. flag colors, unifying the information and design elements.

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Annual report design

The annual report design is an excellent example of an easily readable layout that compiles data-rich information in digestible sections of text and data visualizations. The report breaks up large chunks of text with images or data visualizations that enrich the report with additional insights. Also, the spotlighted quotes draw attention to the key takeaways of the report. 

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Social media advertisement design

The spring sale advertisement immediately grabs attention with the large text intentionally placed around the image. At the first glance, the viewer learns what the spring sale is about due to the central image. Also, the light yellow color matches the spring theme, and the dense yellow tone highlights the call-to-action at the bottom of the post. 

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Safety information poster design

The simple yet effective design is a great list, tips, or rule poster example. Attracting colors draws attention to all three safety tips because they are all equally as important. Also, the exclamation mark icon informs the viewer that this is crucial information they need to draw their attention to.

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Conclusion

Information design is a process for presenting information in a way that is easy to understand and use. The goal is to improve the clarity and usefulness of information by making it more visually appealing and easier to digest. By using the best practices outlined in this article, you can create information designs that are clear, concise, and effective for your target audience. The best way to improve your skills in information design is to practice regularly and look for inspiration everywhere. 

On Infogram, you can discover a great range of templates for infographics, reports, dashboards, posters, social media posts, and more. You can either reuse these templates or create projects from scratch using the information design tips you learned in this article. Remember to experiment with different layouts, fonts, colors, and images, and we’re confident that you’ll find a style that works well for you.

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