Infographic Guide of Guides

This guide was developed by the Kids Brain Health Network (formerly NeuroDevNet) KT Core and York University Last updated November 2016 1
KT - KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION - GUIDES KT Infographic Guide of Guides
Infographic
Guide of Guides
Anneliese Poetz, David Phipps, Stacie Ross1
Introduction
The word “infographic” is short for “information graphic” and “combines data visua-
lizations, illustrations, text, and images together into a format that tells a complete
story” (Krum, 2014: p. 6). Infographics have become a popular vehicle for displaying
abstract, complex and dense information (Kos and Sims, 2014; Dunlap & Lowenthal,
in press). It has similarly become an important type of knowledge translation product,
since people are drawn to attractive visualizations and can “transfer knowledge about
a topic faster and more effectively than pure text” (Kos and Sims, 2014: p. 2).
Infographics provide the means to present complex information in a way that can be
easily understood and is sometimes the preferred format depending on the audience2
(see David Phipps’ journal club post that reviews this article from a KT Practitioner’s
perspective: http://bit.ly/1Q9RC82).
This guide was created for NeuroDevNet researchers and trainees (however it could
also be useful to practitioners and KT professionals) with an interest in exploring
infographics as a KT product. It begins with an evidence-informed introduction followed
by an annotated bibliography of web-based resources and ends with appendices of
evidence-informed worksheets (see Appendices A-E) created by the KT Core for you
to use during the design and creation of your infographic. This guide is intended to
provide you with information including: what is an infographic, what are the different
types of infographics, what should you consider when planning your infographic, how
you can either do it yourself or work with a graphic designer, and a form-fillable tool
you can use to help you think through and collate the information you need before
sketching a draft of your infographic. The suite of form-fillable worksheets created
by the KT Core are intended to assist you with making decisions about the initial
design (e.g. based on the data you have and the story you wish to tell), and to identify
some key stakeholders from your target audience(s) to contact in order to review
drafts for the purpose of informing future iterations. In this way, this guide and the
worksheets have been designed to encourage stakeholder engagement for creating
this KT product.
1 The KT Core wishes to thank the following individuals for contributing feedback on a draft version of this guide: Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, David Nicholas,
Jonathan Weiss (NeuroDevNet researchers); Krista Jensen, Meghan Brintnell (York University KMb Unit staff)
2 Crick, K. and Hartling, L. (2015) Preferences of Knowledge Users for Two Formats of Summarizing Results from Systematic Reviews: Infographics and Critical
Appraisals. PLoS One. 2015; 10(10): e0140029 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140029 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4605679/
* When creating infographics or layouts,
it is common to fill text areas with “fake
Greek” placeholder text until final text
is defined and placed. “Lorem ipsum...”
followed by random Greek is commonly
used by text generators for this purpose.

2 This guide was developed by the Kids Brain Health Network (formerly NeuroDevNet) KT Core and York University Last updated November 2016
Why an infographic?
The benefits of creating infographics as opposed to text-based KT products lie in the power of visualization:
because of the use of symbols and other graphics, its messages are understood across language and
cultural boundaries (Kos and Sims, 2014). Visuals help improve memory and recall, in fact, the more
visual a message is the more likely it is to be recognized and remembered3
. Indeed, Pavio’s (1971) theory
hypothesizes that when an image is viewed, both verbal and image neural pathways are activated in the
brain to support memory. The literature cites instances where infographics have been used or found to be
preferred by practitioners to aid in the application of knowledge from education and training4,5
. Infographics
as a dissemination product have been found useful in practice (education and job training) for reasons
including: maximum amount of information can be transferred in minimum period of time, user friendly, easy
to understand, easier memorizing and reminding process, (results in) accurate decision making process,
clear and quick presentation of information, simplicity in conveying information6
. Infographics simplify
complex information and reduce the amount of cognitive effort needed to achieve understanding because
our minds process and store symbols more easily than text7
. A pilot study of 107 physicians, nurses, nurse
practitioners, health care administrators and physician assistants showed a preference for infographic format
in the context of social media sites and online medical journals, and respondents believed that infographics
allowed for a “quicker, more efficient read…more likely to facilitate long-term, factual retention” (Turck, C.J. et
al., 2014: S37). In this way, infographics can be used as a tool toward achieving uptake and implementation
of your research findings.
Structure and Design
“Design is an opportunity to continue telling the story,
not just to sum everything up” – Tate Linden
There are thousands of types and examples of infographics8
. However, there are 2 main categories of
infographics: qualitative and quantitative9
. Within these categories are different classifications (static,
dynamic, interactive, physical)10
but this guide will focus mainly on the creation of static (use of pictures,
symbols, figures, maps etc. to convey data) infographics. The blogs and other publications referenced in this
guide provide practice-based details and examples for designing and creating effective infographics. General
tips for creators of infographics based on the literature include: have clear titles that quickly establish its
focus and purpose, only use graphics that are necessary (no decorations to distract the viewer), choose the
proper structure to tell the story, use simple visuals to maintain focus11
. In terms of dimensions, keep in mind
that there is no ‘standard’ infographic size. Decide on the dimensions based on how you will use it: if you
are creating a poster for a conference use the dimensions they provide, if you wish to print it use the size
of the paper you wish to print it on (and consider whether you need to leave room for margins and/or bleed
if you wish to have a printer print the colour to the edge of the page), if you want to use it in a PowerPoint
presentation use the dimensions of a PowerPoint slide, and if you want to share it on social media search
what are the optimal dimensions for sharing graphics on the platforms you wish to use.
3 Medina, 2008
4 Yavar, B. et al. (2012). Effective Role of Infographics on Disaster Management Oriented Education and Training. Conference Paper.
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3317.2001
5 Turck, C.J. et al. (2014). A preliminary study of health care professionals’ preferences for infographics versus conventional abstracts for communicating
the results of clinical research. Journal of continuing education in the health professions. 34(S1): S36-S38.
6 Yavar, B. & Mirtaheri, M. (2012). Effective role of infographics on disaster management oriented education and training. Conference paper.
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3317.2001
7 Bojko, A. Communicating Usability Findings Through Effective Infographics. Proceedings of the UPA 2009 Conference.
8 Harris, Robert L. (2000). Information Graphics: A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference. Oxford University Press.
9 Bojko, A. Communicating Usability Findings Through Effective Infographics. Proceedings of the UPA 2009 Conference.
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3317.2001
11 Dunlap, J.C., & Lowenthal, P.R. (in press). Getting graphic about infographics: Design lessons learned from popular infographics. Journal of Visual Literacy.
Introduction / Why an infographic? / Structure and Design

12 Siricharoen, W.V. & N. Siricharoen (2015). How Infographic should be evaluated? ICIT 2015 The 7th
International Conference on Information Technology.
DOI: 10.15849/icit.2015.0100
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3317.2001
Why does structure and design matter? The effectiveness and credibility of your infographic depend on
it, and are determined by how well it achieves its desired goal, how easy and/or pleasing it is to review.
Overall, when designing an infographic “focus on creating efficient, precise, and clear visuals that support
the instructional goals of the message” (Dunlap & Lowenthal, in press: p. 17). Formative evaluation should
be an important step during the creation of your infographic12,13
, while summative evaluation can illuminate
the usefulness (uptake), application (implementation), and impact (e.g. change in practice, policy, quality of
life for families) of your infographic on health care decision-making. Throughout the process, continuously
monitor the development of the infographic to make sure only essential content is clearly, precisely and
concisely conveyed (see Appendix C for an evaluation worksheet to be used by the infographic creator
before sharing with stakeholders). Once you have a first draft you feel is ready to share with stakeholders
for feedback, use Appendix D for the worksheet to provide to key stakeholders along with the draft of your
infographic. Do this in an iterative fashion throughout the production of the infographic (formative evaluation)
to make sure all the elements contribute to effective delivery of the message. Following up with end-users
who are in receipt of your infographic (either printed/laminated copy or electronic version viewed on mobile
or tablet device, report, policy paper, presentations, or other format)14
can help you evaluate the uptake,
implementation and impact of your research (see Appendix E for questions you can ask in a one-on-one or
focus group interview).
Introduction / Structure and Design
Top Tips:
• Resist the urge to start drawing/designing your infographic until
you have planned out your goals, story, structure, colours, etc.
(use the worksheet in Appendix A)
• Have a clear (non-academic) title that establishes its focus and purpose
• Only use graphics that are necessary
• Choose the proper structure to tell the story
• Use simple visuals
• Decide on the size/dimensions based on how you will use it
• Solicit and incorporate end-user feedback to inform design
The following tables summarize the main design elements to consider for your infographic. Part of both form-
ative and summative evaluation includes a consideration of the (often subjective) situational characteristics
of the infographic’s design.

Table 1. Situational characteristics of infographics
Situational characteristics15
Immediacy Creates sense of excitement or urgency, encourages users to take action.
Malleability Allows users to explore the content, apply the content in various ways,
determine their own personal meaning and relevance.
Compellingness Grabs/holds users’ attention, shares provocative idea or problem, uses
unexpected design elements, shares a novel idea or problem, uses storytelling
to deliver the message.
Resonance Helps users to see how the content is relevant to them, helps users to see
connections, evokes users’ emotions and memories, is credible.
Coherence Includes relevant text and images, includes consistent design elements,
presents a complete message, is logically structured, message is clear,
presents a well-informed message.
Table 2. Design elements of infographics
Design elements16
Colour Use the right colour to create a mood, make viewers comfortable with use of
colour, communicate/attract the target audience (use relevant, compatible
colours). Avoid dominant dark colours and neons. Every colour clarifies
meaning of content.
Typography Choice of font characters, margins, size of fonts, ordered hierarchy,
backgrounds for texts. Typography is most important design tool to show data.
Context and Layout Design objectives must be determined and planned to achieve the goals of
the infographic. The layout should have a well-planned structure. Need
introduction, key message and conclusion17
. Structure should be clear, help
viewers locate the information.
Format Vertical or horizontal.
Icons Appropriate use (not overuse) of pictographic icons.
Visual elements that Consciously choose elements that integrate with each other well, to avoid
are on-topic (relevant) distracting the viewer. If you have the means, try to avoid using ready-made
clip-art, templates, charts and pictograms – increases credibility.
16 Arslan, D. & Toy, E. (2015). The visual problems of infographics, Global Journal on Humanities & Social Sciences. [online]. 01, pp 409-414.
Available from: http://www.world-education-center-org/index.php/pntsbs
17 Krum, 2014

18 Duarte, N. (2008). Slideology: The art and science of creating great presentations. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly.
Table 3. Visual structures for infographics
Types of visual organization
and structure
Flow - (a) linear, (b) circular, (c) divergent,
(d) convergent, (e) multidirectional
Flow (a) linear Flow (b) circular
Flow (c) divergent Flow (d) convergent
Flow (e) multidirectional
Examples: choose a structure depending on
the story you are trying to tell18
Flow (flowchart) to show process

Table 3. Visual structures for infographics - continued
and structure
Structure - (a) matrices, (b) trees, (c) layers
the story you are trying to tell
Hierarchical chart to show classification
Structure (a) matrices
Structure (b) trees
Structure (c) layers

and structure
Cluster - overlapping, closure, enclosed,
linked
Cluster (Venn diagram) to show grouping
relationships
Cluster (Venn overlapping)
and structure
Radiate - from a point, with a core,
without a core
Radiate examples
Concept map to show connections between
links and nodes

and structure
Pictorial - process, reveal, direction,
location, influence
Pictorial examples
Road map for showing realistic concepts

and structure
Display - comparison, trend, distribution
Display examples
Bar chart for showing cause and effect

At the end of this guide in Appendix A, the KT Core has created a form-fillable “Infographic Planning
Worksheet” (use Tables 2 & 3 to inform your design decisions as you fill out the worksheet) based upon
the information found in the literature and the resources contained within this Guide of Guides. The online
resources (blogs) that comprise the annotated bibliography section of this document provide examples of
these design elements so you can visualize how each may look for informing your layout and format decisions
while filling out the worksheet in Appendix A. This worksheet is intended to help you think through and collect
the information you will need in order to either create your own infographic or contract a graphic designer.
Do-it-yourself or Contract a Graphic Designer?
There are pros and cons for designing and creating your own infographic versus hiring a professional graphic
designer. From experience, there are online tools that are free and contain pre-made templates, however,
often the final product is stamped with the logo of the software provider. If you use a pre-made template
you may feel that you are trying to ‘fit a square peg in a round hole’ if the design of the template does not fit
the story you wish to tell with your data. You take the risk that your final product will look like several other
individuals’ or organizations’ infographics that have been created using the same template. Contracting a
graphic designer will cost more than using free (or even paid) online tools, but since research has shown
that good design is critical to the effectiveness of your infographic, it can be argued that it is well worth the
investment.
As mentioned in the previous section, an important step in creating an infographic that will be useful to your end-
users is to engage them in the process, asking for iterative feedback on each draft (see worksheet Appendix
D). If you use a pre-designed template, your ability to respond to their feedback with design changes can be
limited by the functionality of the particular online tool. In addition, the literature has shown that the design
of an infographic is crucial to the viewer’s uptake of information. If your infographic is unpleasant to view or
difficult to follow/read the chances are greater that the information will not be understood, remembered, nor
used (Arslan and Toy, 2015). Using a graphic designer can cost between $600-$1000 for one infographic
but you have greater control over the outcome. You can expect to receive a final product that is unique and
tailored to the messages you wish to convey in addition to ongoing support and expert advice on critical
design elements such as choice of colour, typography, layout, etc. throughout the development process.
The effectiveness of an infographic as a dissemination product depends on its quality and presentation
(Kos and Sims, 2014; Dunlap & Lowenthal, in press). If a dissemination product is ineffective it is much
more difficult to achieve uptake and implementation (leading to impact) of your research-based findings
and recommendations. In addition to the online resources that comprise the annotated bibliography, the
peer-reviewed references cited throughout this document may also be useful for practical tips on creating
infographics. If you do not have time to review all of the resources below, the ‘star’ H identifies a handful of
key resources to start with.
We hope you find this guide useful. If you are a NeuroDevNet researcher or trainee and would like a consult
to help you think through the design of your infographic from your research results, or if you need help finding
a graphic designer, contact the KT Core (Anneliese Poetz, KT Core Manager, apoetz@yorku.ca).
Introduction / Structure and Design / Do-it-yourself or Contract a Graphic Designer?

Introduction to Infographics
How To Make an Infographic: The researcher version – 2015
bit.ly/1P0bFG0
Author: Emilie Futterman (TripleScoopMillennials)
Level: Beginner
What is this about?
This video (2 minutes, 24 seconds in length) is targeted to researchers and is a high level overview of the
steps for creating an infographic. It is for researchers with no design knowledge. Steps overviewed include:
1) focus your subject matter, 2) put your data into an interesting story with clear key messages, 3) make it
look great by adhering to design principles. Has tips for keywords to search with on google to learn more
about good infographic design.
How can you use it?
• Watch this short video as an introduction to infographics
• Learn the basic steps for creating an infographic, and specific things to keep in mind for each stage
InfoGraphic Designs: Overview, Examples and Best Practices – 2009
bit.ly/23w8rDZ
Author: Anders Ross (Instant Shift)
Level: Beginner
What is this about?
Explains what an infographic is and a little about the history of infographics. Contains sections on: why
use infographics, elements of an information graphic, and types (statistical, timeline, process, location/
geography). Brief information about selecting colours, typography including examples (called “best
practices” but it is uncertain what their definition of best practices is, and whether it is evidence-informed).
Contains many examples of infographics, links to additional information are included at both the beginning
of the blog as well as the end.
How can you use it?
• Learn about the history of infographics and what they are
• View examples of different types of infographics
H

Use Infographics to Explain Your Work – 2011
bit.ly/1FDjFeV
Author: Dennis Meredith (Research Explainer)
Level: Beginner
What is this about?
This blog post answers questions such as: What is an infographic, who is your audience, do you really
need an infographic, is it informational or editorial, charting your points and organizing design, do you want
a video animated infographic, will you hire a designer or do it yourself.
How can you use it?
• Inform your decision about whether to pursue creating an infographic
• Skip the section entitled “Do lots of research” since you will use your own research findings/data
10 ways to use infographics – 2013
bit.ly/1P0cfDy
Author: Emilie Futterman (TNW News, Design & Dev)
Level: Beginner
What is this about?
Contains information about the value of infographics, and why a researcher may wish to use one including:
as a recruiting tool for students and staff (as a job advertisement, but could be modified for recruiting
research participants), presenting survey data, simplifying a complicated concept, explaining how
something works, comparisons. On page 2: how to organize and attract readers to interesting facts, use
images when words don’t work, raise awareness, inform consumers (end users).
How can you use it?
• Think about why you may wish to use an infographic as a KT tool
• Inform how your research data may be displayed in an infographic format

Designing Your Infographic
How to Make an Infographic in 5 Steps – 2015
bit.ly/1lXqIrI
Author: Eugene Woo (Venngage)
Level: Beginner
What is this about?
Outlines 5 step process for creating an infographic: select a story for the infographic (data driven or
problem/question approach), choose a type of infographic (statistical, timeline, process, informational,
geographic, compare/contrast, hierarchical, research-based, interactive, word cloud), get the relevant
data (your own data, original research, data sources), design (colour schemes, fonts, layouts, chart
types, sketches and outlines) and finally promote (contains ideas for various dissemination channels)
the infographic.
How can you use it?
• Learn the basic considerations you should think about if you want to create an infographic
• As a guide for designing and/or creating your infographic
• As inspiration for creating a dissemination strategy for promoting your infographic
10 steps to creating the perfect infographic – 2014
bit.ly/1Qvrd7q
Author: Tiffany Farrant-Gonzalez and Jarred Romley (Creative Bloq)
Level: Beginner
What is this about?
This blog post provides practical information that explains concepts such as telling a story with your
infographic (content should be compelling, credible and controversial), identifying your purpose and
audience, how to construct an engaging narrative with your data, making complex data understandable,
considerations for good structure including size of the infographic, creating a first draft of your infographic
called a ‘wireframe’, selecting the right tool(s) for creating your infographic, selecting the right visual
approach for your audience and purpose, distribution, and moral considerations.
How can you use it?
• Learn the key considerations to keep in mind when creating an infographic
• Learn about what it means to ‘tell a story’ with your infographic
H

Quick Guide to Infographics – 2012
bit.ly/1nB2Pbp
Author: Ivan Cash (Graphs.net)
Level: Beginner
What is this about?
This is an infographic that shows the key elements of infographics, with averages relating to each (from a
sample of 49 randomly chosen infographics). Elements include: chart styles, font styles, countries featured,
relative popularity of themes/topics, number of symbols per legend/key, base colours used, navigational
iconography, sections, credited sources and title length.
How can you use it?
• Reduce the temptation to overload your infographic with too much information or a title that is
too lengthy, etc.
• As inspiration for ideas about what type of chart to choose for visualizing quantitative data
• To inform your decision about how many peer reviewed papers to cite on your infographic
The Anatomy of an Infographic:
5 Steps To Create A Powerful Visual – 2009
bit.ly/1nqGNHx
Author: Sneh Roy (SpyreStudios)
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
What is this about?
This blog post overviews the 3 core components of any infographic: visual, content and knowledge
and differentiates between a ‘one level deep’ and a ‘two levels deep’ infographic. Overviews the 5
essential steps to creating a good infographic, beginning with: sketching a skeleton or flowchart of your
infographic, devising a colour scheme, deciding which type of graphics to use, research and data to base
the infographic on, and what knowledge or content to focus on with your infographic so it can be easily
understood by the viewer.
How can you use it?
• As a step-by-step guide for making key decisions about how you’d like to create an infographic
• Inform your decision about whether to create your own infographic or contract a graphic designer
• Since this blog post was written for a general audience, you may wish to skip over the advice provided
in the section on research and data upon which to base your infographic (since you will be using
your own research and data)

A Periodic Table of Visualization Methods
bit.ly/1nqH25j
Author: Ralph Lengler and Martin J. Eppler (Visual-Literacy.org)
Level: Intermediate
What is this about?
This is an infographic in the style of a periodic table. It shows the reader the different types of visual
representations in each of the following categories: data, information, concept, strategy, metaphor,
compound. This is an even more useful tool because when you hover your pointer over any one of the
“elements” in the infographic, it shows you an example of that type of visualization.
How can you use it?
• As a reference to help inform the design you choose for your infographic
5 Infographics to Teach You How to Easily Make Infographics
in PowerPoint – 2015
bit.ly/1nRD86e
Author: Erik Devaney (HubSpot)
Level: Intermediate
What is this about?
This blog post is targeted toward biomedical, clinical, health services and public health researchers
and overviews 5 different types of infographics with specific information and an example of each type
of infographic. The five types are: data based infographics, timeline infographics, ‘hip’ infographics,
flowcharts, and infographics with many photographs.
How can you use it?
• As a reference to help decide which among these 5 types you wish to pursue based on the type
of data you have
H

Data Visualization and Infographics Resources – 2009
bit.ly/1SlKN7O
Author: Cameron Chapman (Smashing Magazine)
Level: Intermediate
What is this about?
This is a compilation of links to websites and blogs that aggregate numerous examples of infographics
including some unusual infographics (see Infographic News). Some of these sites provide commentary
as well: iGraphics explains the effectiveness of infographics and how they were done, examples of which
graphics work and which don’t, while Simple Complexity posts some how-to articles on creating better
infographics.
How can you use it?
• Browse examples to see the different types of infographics that are possible
• Use during the planning stage as inspiration for your own design
• As examples to provide to your graphic designer to inform the development of your infographic
(be sure to note what you like/don’t like about each)
Pretty and pretty useful: How to create awesome infographics – 2013
bit.ly/1nB1nFG
Author: Carley Fain, Carolyn Laihow, Kelvin Claveria (Vision Critical)
Level: Intermediate
What is this about?
This blog is written from a marketing perspective, but contains information not contained in other resources
in this guide of guides, such as: which type of infographic to use, the benefits of using infographics, what
makes an infographic successful, how to design great infographics, how to make infographics relevant
to a global audience, how to promote your infographic, when infographics fail, and what is the future of
infographics.
How can you use it?
• Think about why you may wish to use an infographic as a KT tool
• Inform how your research data may be displayed in an infographic format
• Inform your dissemination plan for your infographic

Designing an infographic - 2014
bit.ly/1JIUZGi
Author: Nigel French (Lynda.com)
Level: Advanced
What is this about?
This is an online course (video series) that teaches concepts of infographic design and creation such as:
How to use maps, how to represent data that are easily digestible and visually compelling, how to explain
a complicated sequence of events, how to situate concurrent events on a timeline and tell the stories of
those who experienced these times. How to set up the document, manage the project, choose type and
colour and create a background image. How to convert print infographic to screen infographic for use on
a website. For advanced users, requires access to: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign,
and Microsoft Excel.
How can you use it?
• View the introduction to the online course for free
• Sign up for a free trial of Lynda.com to view the rest of the videos in this course
• Learn how to use the (featured Adobe and Microsoft) software for creating your infographic after you
have filled out the Infographic Planning Worksheet (Appendix A) and sketched out the general
outline (wireframe) of your infographic
Advanced Infographics
bit.ly/1PVH7Fn
Author: Adele Magowan, Jane Foo, Kathryn Klages, Shanna Pearson (Create Impact with Infographics)
Level: Advanced
What is this about?
This is a blog dedicated to providing information on how to create infographics. This particular post is
about how to create interactive infographics, but there are links to other sections of the blog on topics
such as “deconstructing infographics”, “design tips”, “beyond the basics”, “free tools and resources” and
“examples”. You may need to hire someone to write the code for the interactive features of your blog, after
you have planned and sketched a draft of the design.
How can you use it?
• Learn about interactive infographics so you may consider whether this type is right for you
• Skip the section about using open data, since you will be using your own research data to inform
your infographic
• Explore the rest of the blog to learn more about infographics

Tools and Resources for Creating
Your Infographic
10 Tools for Creating Infographics and Visualizations – 2013
bit.ly/1PIn96R
Author: Miranda Rensch (Moz)
Level: Beginner
What is this about?
Provides a comprehensive list of links to the most popular online tools (some have free versions, some
need subscription/payment) that you can use if you do not have access to graphic design software. Brief
explanations are provided for each tool. Contains examples of infographics, as well as general information
about designing and planning an infographic.
How can you use it?
• As a starting point if you are considering using online tools to create a do-it-yourself infographic
• View examples of infographics as inspiration for designing your own
Most popular (free) infographic apps19
:
1. Canva (see: https://www.canva.com/)
This is an easy to use website that has a free or paid option. You need to create a login/password to use it.
Provides a variety of templates for social media, blogs, presentations, posters, business cards, invitations,
etc. along with a large library of images. You can change the dimensions of your infographic to conform
to the dimensions for different social media platforms. Contains a blog and tutorials on how to create
infographics using Canva.
2. Venngage (see: https://venngage.com/)
This is an easy to use website that has a free (limited number of: themes, templates, charts, icons, can only
create a limited number of infographics) and a paid version (can create unlimited number of infographics,
infographics are brand-free, privacy controls, can export to .pdf and .png). You need to create a login/
password to use it. Offers a variety of templates and a blog with tips and tricks.
Tools and Resources for Creating Your Infographic
H
19 Thank you to Meghan Brintnell and Krista Jensen, KMb Unit York University for these suggestions
H

Kids Brain Health Network KT Core - KT helps to maximize the impact of research and training in neurodevelopmental disorders
Contact the KT Core: http://neurodevnet.ca/kt-coreteam LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/neurodevnet
Acknowledgement for HCARRD people who pilot tested the infographic guide tool
and provided feedback:
J. Weiss, B. Isaacs, A. Wilton, & Y. Lunsky. Health profiles of Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities,
part of Health Care Access Research in Developmental Disabilities Program, Ministry of Health and
Long-Term Care Health System Research Fund Program Awards 2013-2016 ($1,811,232).
Acknowledgement

Appendix A: Infographic Planning Worksheet
Purpose/Goal(s)
What do you want people to think, feel, do as a result of viewing your infographic?
What do you want to happen as a result? Changes in practice or policy?
Definitions for following page:
Key messages focus on the project itself, the work that is being done, its latest accomplishments, its plans
for the future—in this way, these messages are more insular.
A story takes a broader view, considers the world around the project, then its larger role within that world
and its impact on the people who live in it. A story provides a sense of purpose and meaning behind the key
messages by helping the audience understand the context for them, therefore making those messages more
believable and palatable.
Modified from source:
http://bbcostorytelling.com/blog/2014/09/04/three-differences-corporate-messages-corporate-story/
Target audience(s) for stakeholder engagement during design and development:
Who are the people who can help achieve your goal(s)?
(by profession, organization, geographic location, role (e.g. parent))
Name of person in target audience (and type Contact information (email, phone)
of target) willing to review drafts of infographic
(sample input that can be overwritten)
The goal of this infographic is to create awareness of the unique (mental) health needs of young adults (age 18-24)
with Austism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) compared to same-age peers with other developmental disabilities and those
without disabilities.
An increased awareness of the unique (mental) health needs of young adults with ASD will influence the health care
planning for this population.
Michael Smith (Health) sample input michael.smith@ontario.ca (sample input)
Margaret Jones (advocate) mjones@autismontario.com 888-732-1555
David Mann (policy maker, MCYS) david.mann@ontario.ca
Christine Rose (policy maker, Education) christine.rose@ontario.ca

Appendix A: Infographic Planning Worksheet - continued
What is the story you want to tell?
What are the key messages you wish to convey?
We know that adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have multiple health issues and often face difficulties
accessing health care services. We wondered however, are these issues unique to those with ASD or typical for
those with any type of developmental disability? Through a unique process of linking health administrative and
social support data, this study identified 15,980 young adults, 18-24, with developmental disabilities in Ontario,
one of the largest studies ever. Of those 15,980, 5,095 had ASD and 10,487 had some other form of developmental
disability. We compared these groups for their health characteristics (overall health, chronic diseases, psychiatric
disorders) and health service use (specialist visits, emergency department visits, hospitalizations). We learned that
51% of young adults with ASD have at least one psychiatric diagnosis, compared to 38% of young adults with other
developmental disabilities. Those with ASD are also more likely to visit the emergency department or hospital for
psychiatric reasons and are more likely to visit a psychiatrist compared to those with other developmental
disabilities. All these differences are even larger when we compare young adults with ASD to their peers without
developmental disabilities, where 20% have at least one psychiatric diagnosis. These findings show that it is
important to include access to mental health care services in the health care planning for young adults with
developmental disabilities, specifically for those with ASD.
1. Young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are more likely to have a psychiatric disorder (51%)
compared to their peers with other developmental disabilities (38%) or those without developmental disabilities
(20%). About 1 in 2 of young adults with ASD has a psychiatric disorder.
2. Young adults with ASD are more likely to visit a psychiatrist (16.4%) compared to their peers with other
developmental disabilities (8.2%) or those without developmental disabilities (2.4%).
3. Both young adults with ASD (5.4%) and those with other developmental disabilities (4.6%) are far more likely to
visit the emergency department for psychiatric reasons comapred to sam-aged peers without developmental
disabilities (1.8%).
4. Both young adults with ASD (3.2%) and those with other developmental disabilities (2.9%) are far more likely to
visit the hospital for psychiatric reasons compared to their same-age peers without developmental disabilities (0.5%)
5. Access to mental health care and prevention of mental health issues should be prioritized when planning health
care for young adults with ASD in Ontario, as well as for adults with other forms of developmental disability.

List the sources (filenames) of data for your infographic:
List sources of qualitative (testimonials, interview transcript excerpts, recommendations, etc.) and/or
quantitative (percentages, monetary values, number of people) data. Can also provide geographic information
(locations with quantitative values for data in that location) if you wish to do a map type of infographic.
Qualitative (charts, diagrams, photos, quotes) Quantitative (graphs, maps)
What size do you need your infographic to be?
What are you doing to use your infographic for: conference poster, social media, printed handout, etc.
This will help you determine what size the infographic should be, before you start designing it.
What is the infographic structure that fits best?
Tip: Consider which infographic visual structure (Table 3) is best suited for EACH of your key messages.
If you have difficulty with this, a graphic designer can provide advice based on the data you have and the story
you want to tell.
(sample) C://Desktop/ResearchDataFile.docx (sample) C://Desktop/ResearchData.xlsx
Applied Health Research Question report for MCYS
The infographic will be shared
1. electronically via social media (Twitter and Facebook) and the H-CARDD website
2. in print at meetings with policy and decision makers
To be determined by deisgner
Key characteristics in this story:
1. linking or of two large data-bases (health administrative and social support) housed at the ministries on Ontario
and Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) is unique method to establish A POPULATION COHORT
2. comparison of health characteristics and health services use of three groups (young adults with ASD vs young
adults with other developmental disabilities vs young adults without developmental disabilities)

Which colour(s) would catch the attention of your target audience(s)?
If you have difficulty with this, a graphic designer can help you work through this.
Which font(s) are you considering?
If you have difficulty with this one, a graphic designer can provide advice.
If you are using an online tool/template this will already be chosen for you.
How will you disseminate your infographic?
List social media channels (your own) and other orgs that will re-share for you.
Will you print and mail to practitioners as a reference? Email? Use in conference presentations?
How will you evaluate your infographic?
Try to think beyond # views, # downloads, # distributed. Can you contact members of your target audience and
interview (or survey) them about how they have used the infographic, and what they have changed about their
practice as a result of the information? Have they seen a change in the behavior and/or satisfaction (of services
provided) of those served by practitioners/programs?
Note that H-CARDD has a graphic design guide, logo and colour code HEX#: 8dc63f PMS: PANTONE376
To be determined by designer.
The infograhic will be archived on the H-CARDD website www.hcardd.ca and made available for download from
this website.
TBD? H-CARDD has build relationships with a varied group of knowledge users who could be contacted after
dissemination of the infographic. H-CARDD uses electronic newsletters to share resources. A question on the
ASD infographic could be included in a newsletter survey at the end of a 6 months communications strategy
May - October '16.

Appendix B:
Sketch a draft of your infographic (look at examples for layout/format/visual elements inspiration):
Appendix B

Appendix C
Appendix C:
Appendix C is intended to be used among project team members to make changes to the infographic before you
send it to stakeholders for review, along with Appendix D to provide to stakeholders for feedback after internal review.
20 Siricharoen, W.V. & N. Siricharoen (2015). How Infographic should be evaluated? ICIT 2015 The 7th
International Conference on Information Technology.
DOI: 10.15849/icit.2015.0100
21 Questions adapted from: Siricharoen, W.V. & N. Siricharoen (2015). How Infographic should be evaluated? ICIT 2015 The 7th
International Conference
on Information Technology. DOI: 10.15849/icit.2015.0100
Check off items as you review your infographic for each checkpoint21
C1. Has clear and meaningful title
C2. Author is listed
C3. Contains information to identify the author as reputable
C4. Contains credible sources/references for the data
C5. All spelling and grammar have been corrected
C6. Objects are displayed in an organized manner in accordance with accepted structure(s)
for the design of infographics
C7. Objects appear to be proportional in size to the data they represent (if applicable)
C8. All objects (size, colour, type) or text correctly represent the data
C9. No objects and/or words that are unnecessary/distracting
C10. There is no missing data. Anything missing has been gathered, analyzed and integrated
to give an accurate portrait of the topic covered in the infographic
C11. Infographic is legible
C12. Infographic is functional in terms of comparing, relating variables and getting across the main point
or messages you wish to convey
C13. Kids Brain Health Network (formerly NeuroDevNet) and the NCE-RCE is identified as
a funder of the research
C14. Kids Brain Health Network (formerly NeuroDevNet) and NCE-RCE logos are present
✔
There are 4 main categories to consider for evaluating your infographic20
:
Usefulness Easy to understand, clear purpose, reliable data (sources cited), informative – viewer
learns something
Legibility Easy to read, colour scheme should not hinder ability to read, graphs/diagrams labeled
appropriately, font choice, size and colour used to make it legible
Design Graphics should reflect purpose and audience, graphics are good quality, not distracting and
consistent, space used effectively (no excess clutter), appropriate use of contrast and colour
Aesthetics Easy to follow, overall design facilitates understanding, hierarchy/organization of data
Evaluation checklist for you to use during creation of your
infographic (before you share a draft with your stakeholders)

Appendix D:
Appendix D
Notes / suggested improvement:
Check off items as you review your
infographic for each checkpoint
D1. Has clear and meaningful title
D2. Contains information to identify the author
as reputable
D3. Contains credible sources/references
for the data
D4. Objects displayed in an organized manner,
using accepted infographic structures
D5. Objects appear to be proportional in size to
the data they represent (if applicable)
D6. All objects (size, colour, type) or text correctly
represent the data
D7. No objects and/or words that are
unnecessary/distracting
D8. Infographic is legible
D9. Infographic is functional in terms of
comparing, relating variables and getting
across the messages you wish to convey
D10. The infographic tells a story
D11. Allows viewer to understand the content
and is not confusing
D12. The infographic is attractive / pleasing
to view
D13. Nothing that would be considered offensive
within this infographic
D14. Sufficient data presented to give an accurate
portrait of the topic covered in the infographic.
Please note what other data should be
gathered / analyzed.
✔
22 Questions adapted from: Siricharoen, W.V. & N. Siricharoen (2015). How Infographic should be evaluated? ICIT 2015 The 7th
International Conference on
Information Technology. DOI: 10.15849/icit.2015.0100
Evaluation worksheet for you to give to your stakeholders/key members
of target audience for providing feedback on your draft infographic22

Appendix D
Appendix D - continued
Evaluation worksheet for you to give to your stakeholders/key members of
target audience for providing feedback on your draft infographic
Short answer (can ask these questions in an email or one-on-one/focus group interview):
1. Would you use this infographic for (insert purpose of infographic)? Why or why not?
2. What is the story being told by this infographic?
3. What are the main messages?
4. What did you learn from this infographic?
5. What surprised you about this infographic?
6. What did it make you feel?
7. Any additional feedback/comments?

Appendix E
Appendix E:
(suggested) interview/focus group questions for you to use for evaluating uptake,
implementation, impact of your infographic
1. How do you use the (title of infographic) infographic in your work?
2. What is the biggest difference you have noticed in the way that you approach your work?
3. (if applicable) What is the biggest difference you have noticed in your patients’/clients’:
i. satisfaction with services
ii. compliance with treatment recommendations/decisions
iii. quality of life/lifestyle
iv. usage of services/products
4. Please tell me about any current or anticipated future change(s) in policies, guidelines, practices,
services or organizational frameworks in your program/organization based on the information in the
infographic you received
5. What do you think is the most effective aspect of this infographic? Why?
6. Would you recommend other practitioners/policymakers/colleagues use this infographic to inform
their work?
i. Who are they (roles/positions)?
ii. Why would you recommend they use it?
7. Is there anything more you’d like to say about how useful (or not) this infographic was for informing
your work?
8. Is there anything I didn’t ask you that I should have?

Sample HCARDD infographic (shown in two parts) corresponding to filled form data
33
%67%
Healthcare Needs of
Young Adults with
Autism Spectrum Disorder
(ASD)
15,582young adults (age 18 - 24)
with ASD or other
developmental disabilities
(DD) across Ontario
A
B5,095 young adults
with ASD
10,487 young adults
with other DD
Young adults
with ASD are 2 times
more likely to visit
a psychiatrist compared to
their peers with other DD
or almost 7 times
those without DD
(A 16.4% vs B 8.2% vs C 2.4%)
A
C
Why is it important to
share and act on this
information?
B
A
How many have at least one psychiatric disorder?
51%A with ASD
B with other DD
C young adults without DD
38%
How likely to visit the Emergency Department
(ED) for psychiatric reason?
with ASD
with no DD
with other DD 2.5x
over
2x
7x
almost
A
B
C
How likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric reason?
with ASD
with no DD
with other DD
Young adults with ASD and their peers with other DD
visit the ED and are hopitalized at similar rates,
but much more often than the general population.
20%
3x
for every
1x
for every
1x
5.8x
6.4x
C 393,263 young adults without DD,
the comparison group was a random sample comprising
20% of the population age 18 - 24 in Ontario without DD
Young adults
with ASD are 2 times
more likely to visit
a psychiatrist compared to
their peers with other DD
or almost 7 times
those without DD
(A 16.4% vs B 8.2% vs C 2.4%)
A
C
Why is it important to
share and act on this
information?
B
A
How many have at least one psychiatric disorder?
51%A with ASD
B with other DD
C young adults without DD
38%
How likely to visit the Emergency Department
(ED) for psychiatric reason?
with ASD
with no DD
with other DD 2.5x
over
2x
7x
almost
A
B
C
How likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric reason?
with ASD
with no DD
with other DD
Young adults with ASD and their peers with other DD
visit the ED and are hopitalized at similar rates,
but much more often than the general population.
Not receiving timely mental health care can lead to
crises in young adults with ASD and other DD, with a very high
personal and social cost, such as greater dependency on hospital
based services.
Access to mental health care and prevention of mental health
issues should be prioritized when planning health care for young
adults with ASD and other developmental disabilities.
We acknowledge the Province of Ontario for their support of this project through their research grants program. The opinions, results,
and conclusions in this infographic are those of the authors and do not reflect that of the Province or the data providers. No endorsement
by the Province for the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) is intended or should be inferred. Parts of this material are based
on data and information compiled and provided by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). However the analyses,
conclusions, opinions and statements expressed herein are those of the author, not necessarily those of CIHI.
This infographic is based on the publication
“Health and health care use of young adults with ASD, Journal Reference”
More information about this research available at www.hcardd.ca
20%
3x
for every
1x
for every
1x
5.8x
6.4x

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