Infographics

An infographic (short for 'information graphic') represents data visually so that the information is able to be quickly and easily understood.

An infographic is more than just a collection of data visualisations (‘dataviz’) – it is designed to tell a narrative about the data.

Infographics can be especially useful for evaluation reporting where there is a need to provide clear and memorable messages. It can be used as a standalone communication product, as supplementary materials for a presentation or workshop, or as a summary of key messages from a more detailed report.

Infographics display the big picture in a simple manner and can tell a story or message and highlight data patterns, relationships and changes over time.

Examples

1. World Food Program

This infographic of a 2020 evaluation by the World Food Program (a United Nations agency) provides information on the context for the evaluation, its scope and data sources, six high-level conclusions and ten recommendations. It also provides a link to a source for the full report, email contact details, and an option to download a PDF file of the infographic.

Download a PDF version of this infographic: Strategic evaluation of WFP's capacity to respond to emergencies (PDF, 240KB)

2. World Bank

This infographic summarises findings from a 2015 synthesis of evidence about the impacts of different interventions on different types of early childhood development outcomes. Most of the infographic is a results matrix showing positive and mixed results. It also includes two key messages, contact details, and links to the original report.

Infographic shows a table of interventions (grouped into health, nutrition, educatoin and social protection) and their associated outcomes (grouped into physical development, cognitive and language development, socioemotional development & mortality and morbidity

Download a PDF version of this infographic: Impact of interventions on early childhood development outcomes infographic (PDF, 1.0MB).

3. UNDP (United Nations Development Program)

This 2020 infographic from UNDP presents six key messages from a review of how evaluation practice needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Infographic with six key messages about evaluation during COVID-19. 1-Rethink evaluation plans & teams, 2-Evaluate the impact of COVID-19, 3-Collect data remotely, 4-Engage stakeholders virtually, 5-Share evaluations globally, 6-Connect with evaluation networks

Source: UNDP IEO

Download a PDF version of this infographic: Evaluation during a crisis: COVID-19 (PDF, 323KB)

Advice for choosing this method

Contexts where infographics might be more appropriate:

  • You want to simplify complex information and present it visually, making it easier for your audience to understand.
  • You need to engage with people who are unfamiliar with the subject matter or have limited time to go through lengthy reports.
  • You plan to share the product through social media and other channels that benefit from visuals.
  • You have sufficient time and resources - it's important to allocate sufficient time for the creation process, even if working with a designer, to ensure your infographics' accuracy and visual appeal.

Advice for using this method

  • Prioritize the most important information you want to convey in your report and use that as the foundation for your infographic creation.
  • If you're working with a designer, ensure the designer understands the key messages to align the visuals accordingly.
  • If you're developing an infographic yourself, draw on the online infographic creation tools and software that offer a wide range of templates and customization options. Choose infographic templates that align with your key messages and suit your preferred style, ensuring a cohesive and visually appealing result.
  • Be mindful of diversity and inclusivity when designing your infographics, using visuals that resonate with a wide range of audiences. Avoid stereotypes or visuals that could be exclusionary or offensive to certain groups.
  • Ensure that your infographics are accessible to people with disabilities, providing alternative text and appropriate colour contrasts.

Resources

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Examples

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