Design and Make Infographics (Project-Centered Course)

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/infographic-design

Introduction

### Course Review: Design and Make Infographics (Project-Centered Course) In the digital age, where information overload is a reality, the ability to convey complex ideas in a visually appealing format is invaluable. The **Design and Make Infographics (Project-Centered Course)** offered on Coursera provides a comprehensive introduction to the art and science of infographics, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to enhance their data visualization skills. #### Overview The course is structured around hands-on projects that lead participants through the process of creating a content-rich infographic using **Adobe Illustrator**. What sets this course apart is its project-centered approach. Instead of just learning theory, students will apply their knowledge to create an infographic on a topic of their choice. The course encourages participants to explore diverse areas, such as sports, entertainment, politics, science, and even personal life themes, enabling a rich blend of creativity and analytical skills. #### Syllabus Breakdown The course is meticulously organized into four progressive modules: 1. **Plan and Layout an Infographic** - This week focuses on understanding the fundamentals of infographics. Students are tasked with planning and sketching their infographics, which helps in conceptualizing the final product. The peer-reviewed assignments cultivate a collaborative environment where feedback is encouraged. 2. **Make a Chart** - In this module, learners delve into creating bar, line, and pie charts using Adobe Illustrator. The instructor emphasizes the correct application of each chart type, along with common pitfalls to avoid. This practical approach helps learners understand the different ways data can be visually represented, reinforcing their ability to choose the right format for their infographic. 3. **Make a Map** - This section allows for exploration of map creation, which can be an integral part of certain infographics. Students learn to incorporate geographic information into their designs, which broadens the scope of what can be represented visually. 4. **Make an Infographic** - Finally, students bring everything together in a cohesive infographic that consolidates their learning. The course includes practical tutorials on designing an infographic from start to finish, making this final project both a culmination of skills learned and a portfolio piece. #### Tools and Resources Participants are encouraged to download a 30-day free trial of Adobe Illustrator, the industry standard for graphic design. For those preferring free alternatives, Inkscape is suggested, though it does not have built-in chart-making capabilities. Additional resources, including YouTube tutorials, further support learners in mastering the necessary skills. #### Personal Experience and Recommendations Having participated in this course, I can confidently say that it equips learners with both technical skills and creative insight. The combination of peer feedback and hands-on assignments fosters a dynamic learning experience. Additionally, the flexibility of choosing topics of personal interest keeps motivation high. My recommendation? **Go for it!** Whether you are a marketer, educator, student, or simply someone who wishes to visualize data better, this course is a must-take. It empowers you to tell compelling stories through visuals and provides a thorough grounding in using one of the most powerful design tools available. #### Conclusion The **Design and Make Infographics (Project-Centered Course)** on Coursera is an invaluable resource for anyone wanting to enhance their infographic design skills. With a strong emphasis on practical application and collaboration, this course bridges the gap between theory and real-world execution. So grab your Adobe Illustrator free trial, unleash your creativity, and start making information beautiful!

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.

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.

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!