This document provides information on creating infographics, including 8 types of infographics such as visual articles, flow charts, timelines, and data visualizations. It recommends that the most relevant types for science writing are useful bait, number porn, timelines, and data visualizations. The document outlines basic steps for making an infographic, which include coming up with a question, researching it with data, choosing an infographic type, clarifying the objective and focus, choosing a creation site, hand sketching it, adding graphics, and choosing colors and fonts. It provides an example question about whether having children hurts female academics' careers and potential data to research for an infographic on that topic.

1. Finding a Format and
Objective for Your
Infographic

2. 8 Types of Infographics:
• Visual Article
• Flow Chart
• Useful Bait*
• Number Porn*
• Timeline*
• Data Visualization*
• Versus
• Photo Infographic
*Most relevant to science writing

3. Visual Article
Like a listicle:
informative, “facts
about” style. Requires
you to compile
information from
multiple sources.

4. Flow Chart
Requires a complex question to be answered.
Helps readers make a decision. Often funny.

5. Useful Bait
Focuses on “how to.” Imagine it hung on a wall
somewhere.

6. Number Porn
“By the numbers”
style. Caution: easily
turns into a jumbled
mess. Careful design
and strong, clear
visual metaphors are
critical.

7. Timeline
Presents a chronology or history of an
invention, concept, etc.

8. Data Visualization
Presents complex information or large data sets
visually, in a way that makes it easy for audiences to
grasp: charts, graphs, tables, maps, etc.

9. “Versus”
Makes a comparison between two or more things.

10. Photo
Infographic
Photos organize
the information.
Need to focus
on quality,
lighting, etc.

11. 2 approaches to identifying data for
infographics:
Identify a question that you
want to answer, and research
until you’ve found an objective
and focus.
Find an interesting collection and
immerse yourself in it until you
find an objective and focus. (i.e.
infographic/data visualization
contests)
e.g.
OR

12. Basic Steps to Making an Infographic
1.Come up with a question.
2.Research that question with data sets
or other resources (keep track of
citations).
3.Identify the type of infographic that
best suits that question.
4.Clarify your objective and find a focus.
5.Explore free infographic creation sites
and identify the site that you’ll use to
create your infographic.
6.Hand sketch the infographic.
7.Find graphics – keep track of where
they came from. Or design your own.
8.Choose appropriate colors and fonts.
OR immerse
yourself in a
given data
set.

13. Does having children hurt female
academic’s careers?
Q:
1.Come up with a question.

14. • average age that female academics are when
they give birth (vs. non-academic population)
• number of female vs. male full professors
• the “baby penalty”: missed opportunities and
time
• effect on average salaries of female vs. male
professors
• sciences vs. humanities?
To research:
2. Research that question with data sets or
other resources (keep track of citations).

15. Objective/focus:
Women in academia are penalized
for having babies.
4. Clarify your objective and find a focus.