Design and Make Infographics (Project-Centered Course) from Coursera

In this project-centered course*, you will create a content-rich infographic on a topic of your choice using Adobe Illustrator (which you can download for a free, 30-day trial). You might choose to create a visual representation of data from the world of sports, entertainment, politics, or science, to explain a business trend or environmental issue, or even to present a theme or development from your personal life. Your finished infographic will engage your target audience and convey information clearly through effective use of design elements such as typography, color, and structure.

Whether you’re a graphic designer, a writer or the intern in the department, you’ll learn:

• what an infographic is and what makes a good one

• how to work within your limits

• how to work with a team (if you have one)

• why infographics are effective

• techniques for spotting data in stories

• six valuable steps for planning an effective infographic

• how to use and make some of the building blocks of infographics: maps, charts and flow charts

• ways data can be visualized to clarify it and give it meaning

• how to effectively design a good infographic by effectively using elements like type, color and an underlying grid structure

• some free or cheap, online tools for making various kinds of infographics

As you work on your project, you’ll learn more about why infographics are effective, what makes a good infographic, and how to plan and design an infographic for maximum impact. You’ll explore various approaches to data visualization, and you’ll practice creating visualizations like maps, charts, flow charts, and simple drawings in your free version of Adobe Illustrator. Please note that if you are new to learning graphics software, making these graphics could take much longer than estimated as you learn and grow.

What you’ll need to get started:

This project-based course is aimed at anyone interested in understanding, designing, and using infographics - from students and hobbyists to professional graphic designers.

We’ll use Adobe Illustrator for some components of the project. If you don’t have access to the full version of Illustrator,you can download a free version at www.Adobe.com/Illustrator. If the free 30-day trial runs out, you can "purchase" it for a month for about $20.

*About Project-Centered Courses: Project centered courses are designed specifically to help you complete a personally meaningful real-world project, with your instructor and a community of like-minded learners providing guidance and suggestions along the way. By actively applying new concepts as you learn, you’ll master the course content more efficiently; you’ll also get a head start on using the skills you gain to make positive changes in your life and career. When you complete the course, you’ll have a finished project that you’ll be proud to use and share. When you enroll in certain courses, you’ll be asked to pay a small fee to share your work with others for peer review.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Plan and layout an infographic

This week is broken into two key themes: things that you need to know about infographics and this week's two peer-reviewed assignments: 1) plan an infographic and 2) sketch a layout of your infographic.

Make a chart

This week we're going to focus on three popular kinds of charts: bar, line and pie and you'll learn what kind of data each one is used for as well as some things you shouldn't do with them. The assignment this week is to make a chart using Adobe Illustrator. If learning graphic software is new to you, this could take you much more time than you think. In the fourth and final module of this project you will be creating an infographic that will contain at least one chart in it, so this might be a good point for you to think about what topic you would like to make your infographic about and then plot your chart here using data that you can apply to your infographic. You can download a 30-day trial version of the Adobe Illustrator by going to www.Adobe.com/Illustrator, or, if you prefer not to use Illustrator, you could try Inkscape (https://inkscape.org/en/), which is free. It won't plot charts, but I've heard that people plot charts in another program, such as Excel, and then carefully trace them in Inkscape so that they can style them up to their needs. Here are some good Youtube tutorials: https://youtu.be/zUIOEXssTSE. Technically, charts are called graphs, but I’m not a purist. I call them charts and I have for 30 years. You may call them whatever you like. ☺ Why Illustrator? It’s the industry standard for creating maps, charts and other graphic images. My Adobe Illustrator tutorial this week shows you how to make a pie chart, and the same styling and editing techniques will apply to the other chart types. If you prefer, here is a link to my tutorial for “How to Make a Bar Chart in Adobe Illustrator,” though. It’s not Illustrator CC, but you won’t be able to tell the difference and it’s a little more comprehensive than my pie chart tutorial.

Make a map

Make an infographic

You've learned some things about content, layout, design, color and making maps and charts and now it's time to pull them all together into an infographic. It will help if you review my video from module one where I make an infographic (the one on melanoma) from start to finish. I have a tutorial here that will show you how to draw an illustration in Illustrator, in case your infographic calls for one. I hope you try it!

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Beginner-friendly, provides a solid foundation for those new to infographics

Offers practical, hands-on experience through project-based learning

Led by Karl Gude, an experienced professional in data visualization and design

Relevant for individuals seeking to enhance their communication skills through visual data representation

Covers various design elements, such as typography, color, and structure, essential for creating effective infographics

Provides guidance on identifying data in stories and spotting trends

May require additional time for individuals unfamiliar with Adobe Illustrator

Subscription to Adobe Illustrator may incur additional costs

Reviews summary

Introduction to infographics

Learners say this project-centered course is a great introduction to infographics that's perfect for beginners. Instructor Karl Gude provides engaging assignments, easy-to-understand video lessons, and practical tips that help students create effective infographics using Adobe Illustrator. The peer review process is a valuable learning experience, but some students report that feedback from peers can be unhelpful or non-existent. Overall, learners say this course provides a solid foundation in infographic design.

Beginner friendly.

"Very comprehensive and beginner friendly."

"This is one of the best courses I have enrolled in."

"As a beginner in making infographics, this course helped me a lot and provided additional knowledge in making infographics."

Assignments are helpful and engaging.

"I liked the course. Interesting materials and well explained."

"The assignments were well-paced and interesting."

"I learnt a lot even though I already used illustrator before."

Lessons are engaging and easy to understand.

"Every seconds spent is worth it!"

"I cannot stop listening and watching the lessons though it is time for me to head to bed."

"I learnt how to make different elements of an info graphic."

Instructor is knowledgeable and engaging.

"Instructor is very knowledgeable and presents well."

"Karl was a witty, knowledgeable instructor!"

"Thank you, Mr. Gude, I've got my new skill."

Peer review can be helpful, but feedback can be inconsistent or nonexistent.

"Many of the comments I received were unhelpful as they mostly ranged from "it was okay" to "good job.""

"It is sometime not user friendly. When i submited assignment after 2 weeks even no one check it and I want to leave this course."

"I had to wait every week to get my assignment reviewed by four peers and it takes a lot of time to be done."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Design and Make Infographics (Project-Centered Course) with these activities:

Read 'The Visual Display of Quantitative Information' by Edward Tufte

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This classic book provides a comprehensive guide to the principles of data visualization and will help you improve your infographic designs.

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Purchase or borrow the book from your local library.
Read the book carefully and take notes.

Find a mentor who is an experienced infographic designer

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Having a mentor can provide you with valuable guidance, support, and feedback as you develop your infographic design skills.

Browse courses on Infographics

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Attend industry events or join online communities to connect with experienced infographic designers.
Reach out to potential mentors and ask for their guidance.

Review data visualization techniques

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Brushing up on data visualization techniques will help you understand concepts covered in this course more easily.

Browse courses on Data Visualization

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Review online tutorials on data visualization.
Read articles and blog posts about data visualization best practices.

Six other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all nine activities

Watch online courses on infographic design

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Online courses can provide you with structured guidance and hands-on exercises to enhance your infographic design skills.

Browse courses on Infographics

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Search for online courses on infographic design on platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or LinkedIn Learning.
Choose a course that aligns with your goals and skill level.

Join a study group or online community focused on infographics

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Joining a study group or online community can provide you with support, feedback, and opportunities to learn from others.

Browse courses on Infographics

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Search for infographic-related study groups or online communities on platforms like Meetup, Discord, or Reddit.
Join a group that aligns with your interests and goals.

Create infographics on your favorite topics

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Creating infographics will give you hands-on experience with the principles covered in this course and help you develop your skills.

Browse courses on Infographics

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Choose a topic that you are interested in.
Gather data from reliable sources.
Design and create an infographic using Adobe Illustrator or a similar tool.

Write a blog post or article on a topic related to infographics

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Writing a blog post or article will help you solidify your understanding of infographic design and share your knowledge with others.

Browse courses on Infographics

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Choose a topic related to infographics that you are passionate about.
Research and gather information to support your ideas.

Contribute to open-source infographic design projects

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Contributing to open-source projects will allow you to work on real-world projects, collaborate with others, and enhance your skills.

Browse courses on Infographics

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Search for open-source infographic design projects on platforms like GitHub or Open Source Projects.
Choose a project that aligns with your interests and skills.

Develop an infographic for a real-world project

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Working on a real-world infographic project will allow you to apply your skills to a practical scenario and create a valuable asset.

Browse courses on Infographics

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Identify a real-world problem or issue that you want to communicate.
Gather and analyze relevant data.
Design and create an infographic that effectively communicates the information.

Career center

Learners who complete Design and Make Infographics (Project-Centered Course) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Graphic designer

A Graphic Designer produces visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. This course will help you to develop your creative skills and learn how to use design elements effectively. You will also learn how to create infographics that are clear, concise, and visually appealing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer

Data Visualization Specialist

Data Visualization Specialists create visual representations of data to help people understand complex information. This course will teach you how to use data visualization techniques to communicate insights and trends. You will also learn how to create infographics that are visually appealing and easy to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Visualization Specialist

User Experience Designer

User Experience Designers create products and services that are easy to use and enjoyable. This course will help you to develop your understanding of user experience design principles. You will also learn how to create infographics that are user-friendly and accessible.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer

Marketing Manager

A Marketing Manager develops and executes marketing campaigns that promote products or services. This course will help you to develop your marketing skills and learn how to use infographics to reach your target audience. This course may be particularly helpful for marketing managers responsible for creating visual content or working with designers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Content Creator

Content Creators create and deliver content for a variety of platforms, including websites, social media, and print. This course will help you to develop your content creation skills and learn how to use infographics to engage your audience. This course may be particularly helpful for content creators responsible for creating visual content or working with designers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Creator

Social Media Manager

Social Media Managers create and manage social media content for businesses and organizations. This course will help you to develop your social media marketing skills and learn how to use infographics to engage your audience. This course may be particularly helpful for social media managers responsible for creating visual content or working with designers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager

Web Designer

Web Designers create and maintain websites. This course will help you to develop your web design skills and learn how to use infographics to make your websites more visually appealing. This course may be particularly helpful for web designers responsible for creating visual content or working with designers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations Specialists manage the public image of businesses and organizations. This course will help you to develop your public relations skills and learn how to use infographics to communicate with your target audience. This course may be particularly helpful for public relations specialists responsible for developing visual content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist

Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers create and develop educational materials and programs. This course will help you to develop your instructional design skills and learn how to use infographics to make your materials more visually appealing. This course may be particularly helpful for instructional designers responsible for creating visual content or working with designers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create and maintain technical documentation. This course will help you to develop your technical writing skills and learn how to use infographics to make your documentation more visually appealing. This course may be particularly helpful for technical writers responsible for creating visual content or working with designers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst collects, analyzes, and interprets data to help organizations make informed decisions. This course may be useful for Data Analysts as it can provide an introduction to data visualization techniques that can be used for analyzing and presenting data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Information Architect

An Information Architect designs and organizes the structure and content of websites and other digital products. This course may be useful for Information Architects as it can provide an introduction to design principles and data visualization techniques that can be used for organizing and presenting information.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst analyzes business processes and systems to identify opportunities for improvement. This course may be useful for Business Analysts as it can provide an introduction to data visualization techniques that can be used for analyzing and presenting data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Project Manager

A Project Manager plans, organizes, and executes projects. This course may be useful for Project Managers as it can provide an introduction to design principles and data visualization techniques that can be used for planning and presenting project information.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Product Manager

A Product Manager plans, develops, and markets products. This course may be useful for Product Managers as it can provide an introduction to design principles and data visualization techniques that can be used for planning and presenting product information.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager