Compelling Infographics
by Ashley Graham-Wilcox
Update (1/17/24): New web-based app automates Episcopal parish register portion of the annual parochial report
As we enter the season of Annual Reports, here are some tools for turning that data into something more eye-catching — and some reasons why, since it might take extra time and effort. It’s worth it! (Don’t believe me? Here’s some bonus reading: Why Abraham Lincoln Loved Infographics.)
One of the primary strengths of infographics is their ability to simplify complex ideas. This makes them a powerful tool in our communicators’ storytelling toolbox. Infographics leverage the power of visual elements to make information more engaging and memorable. The combination of colors, icons, and illustrations captures attention and encourages people to explore our content. In fact, studies show that people remember visual information better than text alone. Infographics take advantage of this cognitive preference, leading to increased retention of information (No one will ever ask again what time Bible Study starts! If only…)
What kind of graphic template should I look for?
Consider what kind of data you’re using and what the story is.
Choose what type of story you’re trying to tell with your infographic (Dig way more into the nitty-gritty of data visualization here, or here.):
Statistical Infographics: Ideal for presenting data and statistics in a visually compelling way. Use bar charts, pie charts, and other visualizations to illustrate key points. These are the graphics to show off your congregation’s numbers: Attendance and contributions and participation by ministry and data points about your various outreach initiatives. How many kids attended the diocesan summer camp? How many loads of laundry did Laundry Love do for your neighbors? How many worship services did the clergy offer, in total, across the year?
Pro Tip: For statistics, I prefer to use Microsoft Excel to create a rudimentary version of whatever infographic I am trying to create, in order to ensure my data maintains its integrity, and to allow me to find the right type of graph/image before committing too my time to it.
Timeline Infographics: Suitable for illustrating a sequence of events or the evolution of a topic over time. Timelines help convey a sense of history or progression. Use to illustrate progress on a grant, the evolution of your youth programming by age, updates on a fundraiser, or context about your congregation’s neighborhood.
Process Infographics: Use process infographics to explain step-by-step procedures or workflows. This type of infographic is excellent for instructional content. How do decisions get made in your congregation? What is the Episcopal Church’s liturgical calendar? These are powerful, educational graphic options.
Comparison Infographics: Compare two or more items side by side. This type of infographic is useful for highlighting the differences and similarities between various elements. Compare pre- and post-pandemic numbers. Compare your congregation’s data to the averages across The Episcopal Church. Compare elements of different worship services.
Geographic Infographics: Effective for presenting data or information related to specific geographical locations. Maps, charts, and illustrations can be used to convey regional information. How wide is your church’s reach (or, how deep — what percentage of parishioners walk to worship, or what percentage of your town is a church member?)? What’s the farthest a parishioner drives from to participate? Where do people log-in from to participate in online worship? How far did the youth group travel for its various activities and missions trips (and EYE!) last year?
This is pretty word-heavy for a post about infographics, so let’s wrap up with three places to use to develop yours:
Canva. Of course.
Ease.ly. (Free download of “low quality” image — 144 DPI, or $5/month): 320 templates
Piktochart. (Basic components are free, or $14/month): 1000+ templates.
And finally, some inspiration.
