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.

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.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

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

Create effective infographics with design tools

According to learners, this course offers a largely positive introduction to designing infographics, particularly highlighting the practical project-centered approach. Students appreciate learning the process from planning to execution and find the content on design principles like layout, color, and typography to be useful. While the course focuses on using Adobe Illustrator, which some find challenging if new to the software, it provides guidance and suggests free alternatives. Many reviewers note that completing the main project provides a tangible outcome and a solid foundation, although some feel it could benefit from more in-depth technical instruction on the software itself.

Peer feedback helps, but quality varies.

"The peer review assignments were helpful for getting feedback on my work."

"Peer reviews were sometimes inconsistent in quality or feedback provided."

Good introduction, but maybe basic for some.

"This course is a great starting point for beginners, but it may not be deep enough for experienced graphic designers."

"Provides a solid overview, but doesn't go into advanced techniques or complex data visualization methods."

"I felt it was a good foundation, but I need to learn more technical skills elsewhere."

Suggestions for free software alternatives.

"Appreciated that they suggested Inkscape as a free alternative to Illustrator."

"Good to know there were options besides Illustrator, though the main tutorials focus on Adobe."

Finishing the project gives a clear result.

"It's very rewarding to finish the course and have a complete infographic project to show for it."

"Walking away with a finished infographic was the best part."

"Having a tangible final project makes this course feel very productive."

Clear teaching of infographic design rules.

"The course provides really good foundations on composition, typography and color use for creating effective infographics."

"Learned useful principles for design, layout, and storytelling through visuals."

"The sections on planning, layout, and using design elements were incredibly helpful for creating impactful visuals."

Hands-on project is a key positive.

"The structure of this course, being project-centered, works well. It provided a clear framework and deadlines to work on my own infographic."

"I loved the project-based approach! It gave me a clear goal and helped me apply the concepts immediately."

"Doing the project made the learning very practical and engaging. It wasn't just theory, I actually created something."

Illustrator use is central but can be a barrier.

"Using Adobe Illustrator is a key part of the course, and while a trial is offered, accessing it or learning it can be a challenge for some."

"The course requires Illustrator knowledge, which might be difficult for complete beginners to graphic software."

"I spent more time wrestling with Illustrator than focusing on the design concepts sometimes."

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