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Design and Make Infographics (Project-Centered Course)

Approx. 9 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course teaches you how to create compelling infographics that communicate information and data effectively. You will learn how to design visually appealing graphics that are easy to understand and memorable.

Key Learning Points

Learn the principles of effective infographic design
Understand how to choose the right data and create a story
Discover the tools and techniques to create stunning infographics

Learning Outcomes

Create effective and visually appealing infographics
Understand the principles of good design and data visualization
Apply these principles to your own projects

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic design skills
Access to design software such as Adobe Illustrator or Canva

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online and self-paced
Video lectures and interactive quizzes

Similar Courses

Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau
Introduction to Graphic Design

Related Education Paths

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Description

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.

Outline

Plan and layout an infographic
Meet The Professor
What You'll Learn
What is an Infographic?
Why are infographics useful?
Types of Infographics
What are some things you can do to visualize data
What Makes an Infographic good?
How to work alone or with a team
Planning STEP 1: What's Your Goal?
Planning STEP 2: Who is your Audience?
Planning STEP 3: What is your Story?
Planning STEP 4: What is your Message?
Planning STEP 5: How to Find Stories in Data?
Planning STEP 6: What is your supporting content/data?
Video: The importance of sketching
Video: START TO FINISH: How I make an infographic
GREAT sites for making infographics online (with reviews & tutorials)

Make a chart
The three amigos: bar, pie and line charts. What they do.
A few chart dos and don'ts
Six ways to visualize the same data in a chart
How to make a PIE chart in Adobe Illustrator
Print out: What kind of data goes on bar, pie and line charts?
Video: How to make a BAR chart in Adobe Illustrator

Make a map
Map components: visual variables
Types of maps
Type on maps
Drawing roads and info pointer boxes on maps that aren't awful
How to make a map in Adobe Illustrator (Oregon)
How to use and how NOT to use the pen tool
Example images of good roads for maps drawn in Illustrator
Examples of pointer (info) boxes for maps drawn in Illustrator
Link to more detailed video tutorial: How to make a map in Adobe Illustrator (Michigan)

Make an infographic
Color in infographics
Don't hurt your image with bad, sloppy work
How to draw a simple illustration in Adobe Illustrator
Video: How working with type in Adobe Illustrator

Summary of User Reviews

Infographic Design course on Coursera has received positive reviews from users. Many users found the course to be comprehensive and engaging. However, some users found the course to be too basic and lacking in advanced techniques.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

Comprehensive content

Pros from User Reviews

Engaging course material
Clear and concise lectures
Great for beginners

Cons from User Reviews

Lack of advanced techniques
Not suitable for experienced designers
Limited practical exercises

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