1. Define the message and presentation conditions
An infographic slide does not need to summarize the entire presentation. First, choose one question it will answer: “At what stage are applications declining?” or “What steps make up the new process?” Write the answer in one sentence. Consider removing or moving to another slide any elements that do not explain this sentence.
Consider who will see the slide and where. The amount of information that works for content viewed from a distance on a large screen may differ from what works for content that will be examined closely later. If your organization has brand guidelines, consult them when making decisions about color, logos, and fonts. For example, UC Davis states that its institutional presentation templates are available in PowerPoint and Google Slides formats. This information is limited to UC Davis templates; it does not describe the rules or options of other institutions: UC Davis presentation templates.
2. Choose a layout that suits the relationship you want to show
First, decide what you want to show. You might consider a line chart for change over time, columns for comparing categories, or a numbered flow for process steps. These are options for organizing content; they do not mean that the template you use already includes these charts.
Make room for a title, main visual, explanation, and source information. Consider removing decorative elements that serve no purpose, or simplifying the layout if it makes comparisons or reading order harder to follow. Check whether the template’s default layout suits your content. If you need to know about a specific product’s menus, features, or available formats, consult that product’s current guidance; no specific application steps are assumed here.
3. Prepare the data and sources
Before adding a number to the slide, note the source, unit, period, and definition for each value. “Number of users” may be ambiguous on its own: does it count registered users or those active during a particular period? State this distinction in the title or a short explanation. Check that the values compared in the same chart use the same definition.
Choose values that support the message; you can move the remaining details to another slide or a suitable explanatory area. The number of values to use depends on the content and presentation conditions; do not claim that there is a fixed number suited to every presentation. Citing a source alone does not prove that the data is accurate: compare the value with the original record if possible.
For those preparing educational materials, Rutgers’ Computing Innovations Infographics package includes a lesson plan, assignment description, 40-point assessment rubric, student worksheet, and presentation slides. This describes a specific computer science course package; it is not a required method for every infographic. Rutgers Computing Innovations Infographics.
4. Adapt the template to your message
Make the title outcome-focused, but state the outcome only if your data supports it. For example, instead of “2025 application data,” you could write “Applications decline most at the initial review stage”; to do so, you need to have compared the numbers across the stages. Present the main visual after the title. Consider making the reading order clear with numbers, directional arrows, or alignment; do not rely on color alone to convey meaning. Check that the chart labels are consistent with the explanatory text.
Rather than making the text extremely small to fit everything on one slide, remove unnecessary details, shorten the text, or consider splitting the content across multiple slides. For guidance on choosing colors and backgrounds, see using presentation background images legibly; for using icons consistently, see building an icon system for business presentations.
5. Example: show the application process on one slide
The numbers below are entirely fictional. Suppose a team wants to describe the progress of 1,000 total applications through an evaluation process. Assume that 600 remain after the initial review and 240 at the interview stage. The decline in the first interval is 400 applications, and the decline in the next interval is 360. In this example, the largest drop occurs in the first review interval, so the title “Applications decline most at the initial review stage” is consistent with the numbers given.
A slide plan could be: an outcome-focused title at the top; a three-stage flow progressing from left to right in the center; the current number of applications beneath each stage; a short note explaining the difference between the first two stages; and source and period information at the bottom. The numbers here are for example purposes only; replace them with your own data in a real presentation. If the number for the next stage is unknown, do not make one up: label the stage “result pending” or choose a layout that accurately reflects the available data.
To describe the content, you could write an instruction such as “Use a three-stage horizontal flow; leave room for the title and source; use the numbers given exactly; do not add new values.” This is an instruction about design content; it is not a feature of a specific tool, an automatic verification function, or a guarantee of error-free results.
6. Review potential problems
If the slide looks cluttered: First reduce decorative elements and repeated explanations. If it is still crowded, consider splitting up the information; simplify the content rather than making the text smaller.
If the chart’s message is unclear: Read the title, then examine the chart. If the title and visual suggest different conclusions, reconsider the title or the visual layout. Compare units, date ranges, category names, and totals with your source data.
If colors or icons cause confusion: Choose consistent markers for categories, add text labels alongside colors, and check that similar icons are not being used to mean different things. Open the slide that will be shown or shared and check for clipping, alignment, and readability. For automatically prepared content, compare numbers, labels, and sources with the original record; do not add them to the presentation without checking them.
7. Final check and frequently asked questions
- The slide answers a specific question; the title reflects the main message.
- The source, period, unit, and definition of the numbers are clear.
- The chart suits the comparison or process being described; labels are consistent with the data.
- Unnecessary elements have been removed; the text is readable under the presentation conditions.
- The use of color, icons, and branding is consistent; meaning does not depend on color alone.
- The slide to be shared or shown has been opened and checked for clipping, alignment, and readability.
Can I use a template as is?
You may consider using it if your content, your organization’s guidelines, and the presentation conditions suit the layout. Check the title, visual, source area, and readability; adapt any parts that do not fit. If you need to know which formats a particular template is available in or what it includes, consult the relevant institution’s current template page.
Does an automatically prepared infographic verify the data?
Do not assume that it does. Compare numbers, units, labels, and sources with your original data; do not add them to the presentation without checking them.
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