Making a factsheet or infographic is a recurring assignment on our platform. But what exactly does this mean? What are the differences between the two, and how do you make them?
Difference between factsheet and infographic
There are no general rules about the differences between infographics and fact sheets. The terms are therefore often used interchangeably. However, there are indeed differences between the two. Stick to these guidelines when making a factsheet or infographic:
Factsheets are documents with full sentences, where the design is less important than the content. A fact sheet provides a summary of clearly displayed information, on an A4 sheet. The design should be neat but is not the most important. The information is the most important. Download here an example of a fact sheet.
Infographics mainly contain pictures. These pictures are supported by text, which is usually written in keywords. The design is more important because it makes the information easier to understand. An infographic should be evident at a glance. The text is less important than a fact sheet, but the information should still be clear. View here an example of an infographic.
How to make a factsheet
- Prepare your factsheet
Immerse yourself in the topic that the factsheet should be about. For example, you can create a mind map on the subject. Think of subheadings that you can use. - Think of the text
Use the subheadings you've devised to determine which text should appear on your fact sheet. Have someone else read this text as well for feedback. - Create the fact sheet
It's best to create a fact sheet in a program such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Write down the different subheadings first. Now put the information in your own words on the factsheet. - Take care of the design
First, choose which colours you want to use. Microsoft Word already has certain colour combinations that you can use. Also, choose the font for the headings and the text. Make sure it remains legible! You can look up icons related to the topic. For example, take a look at Vecteezy or Pixabay. Process these in a logical place in the fact sheet. - Check the fact sheet
Read the text again carefully. Check that there are no spelling mistakes and that everything is in the right place. - Save the fact sheet
It is best to save the fact sheet as .pdf. Then nothing will be changed in the design.
How to make an infographic
- Prepare your infographic
Learn about the topic your infographic is going to be about. For example, you can create a mind map to prepare or make a sketch on paper. This way you'll know what your infographic might look like. Often an infographic is about a process. You can, for example, create an arrow scheme. Or compare two things, and then divide the page in two and write down the differences and similarities. If your infographic is about separate facts, consider which or whether some facts belong together. Then you assemble them. - Think about the text and images
Think about which text and images you'd want to see in the infographic. Think of keywords or sentences of 2 or 3 words. Use as few complete sentences as possible. Write down the text you are going to use somewhere. This way you can be sure that you will use everything in the infographic. Make sure you also know which text goes where on the infographic, combined with which image. - Create the infographic
There are several (free) websites available to create infographics. Check out Piktochart, Infogr.am, Easel.ly or Canva. These websites are free, but usually, you need to register to access them. Templates are often also available, so you don't have to think about what the end product will look like. These websites also have icons ready for you. Find a template that matches the image you have in mind, or get started yourself! - Check the infographic
Read the text again carefully. Check that there are no spelling mistakes and that everything is in the right place. - Save the infographic
When you're pleased, save the infographic. It is best to save the file as an image or PDF.