Overview
Great infographics transform complex data into visual stories that people actually understand and remember. This course teaches you to combine Excel’s data analysis power with PowerPoint’s design capabilities to create compelling, professional infographics that communicate clearly and grab attention.
You’ll learn to organize and visualize data in Excel, design custom charts that tell stories, build visual layouts in PowerPoint, and integrate data-driven graphics with icons, shapes, and typography. Whether you’re creating social media graphics, annual reports, marketing materials, or educational content, you’ll master the workflow for turning numbers into narratives.
Format: 2 Days | VILT
Who Should Attend
- Marketing professionals creating data-driven content
- Data analysts presenting findings to non-technical audiences
- Content creators developing visual social media posts
- Communications teams producing reports and publications
- Educators and trainers making complex concepts accessible
What You’ll Learn
- Plan effective infographics using data storytelling principles
- Prepare and structure data in Excel for visualization
- Create and customize charts that communicate insights clearly
- Design icon-based data representations and visual metaphors
- Build professional layouts with hierarchy and flow
- Integrate Excel charts seamlessly into PowerPoint designs
- Apply color, typography, and composition for maximum impact
- Export infographics for web, social media, and print
Course Outline
Module 1: Infographic Fundamentals and Planning
- What makes an effective infographic: clarity, accuracy, and visual appeal
- Types of infographics: statistical, informational, timeline, process, comparison
- Understanding your audience and message
- Data storytelling: finding the narrative in your numbers
- Sketching and wireframing before design
- Choosing the right visualization for your data type
Module 2: Data Preparation in Excel
- Organizing data for effective visualization
- Cleaning and formatting data for charts
- Calculating percentages, ratios, and growth rates
- Using formulas to prepare data summaries
- Creating data tables that support multiple chart types
- Identifying outliers and trends in your data
Module 3: Creating Data Visualizations in Excel
- Choosing chart types: column, bar, line, pie, and specialty charts
- Building combination charts for complex comparisons
- Creating sparklines for inline data trends
- Customizing chart elements: removing clutter and adding clarity
- Using data bars and icon sets for conditional formatting
- Creating mini-visualizations for infographic elements
- Formatting charts for export to PowerPoint
Module 4: Advanced Chart Customization
- Removing chart junk: gridlines, backgrounds, and unnecessary elements
- Custom color schemes that align with brand and message
- Adding data labels strategically for impact
- Creating pictograph charts with custom icons
- Building progress circles and gauge charts
- Designing comparison charts: before/after, actual vs. target
- Creating slope graphs and bump charts for change over time
Module 5: Visual Design Principles for Infographics
- Visual hierarchy: guiding the viewer’s eye through data
- Color psychology and strategic color use in data visualization
- Typography for infographics: readable, hierarchical, and expressive
- Using white space to improve comprehension
- Grid systems for professional layouts
- Balance and alignment in multi-element designs
- Creating visual flow from one data point to the next
Module 6: Building Infographic Layouts in PowerPoint
- Setting up artboards for different output sizes
- Creating background designs and sections
- Integrating Excel charts into PowerPoint layouts
- Linking vs. embedding: when to use each method
- Building headers, titles, and section dividers
- Creating callouts and annotations for key insights
- Designing footer areas with sources and credits
Module 7: Icons, Shapes, and Visual Metaphors
- Using PowerPoint’s icon library effectively
- Creating custom icons from basic shapes
- Building data visualizations with icon repetition (isotypes)
- Designing progress indicators and status bars
- Creating timeline graphics and process flows
- Using visual metaphors to represent abstract concepts
- Combining icons with data for hybrid visualizations
- Maintaining visual consistency across icon sets
Module 8: Finalizing and Exporting Infographics
- Quality control checklist: accuracy, clarity, and design
- Proofreading data and text elements
- Testing readability at different sizes
- Accessibility considerations: color contrast and alt text
- Exporting high-resolution graphics for print
- Creating web-optimized versions for websites
- Sizing and formatting for social media platforms
- Creating templates for repeatable infographic workflows
Prerequisites & Technical Requirements
- Basic Excel skills including charts and formulas
- Basic PowerPoint skills including shapes and layouts
- Microsoft Excel 2016 or later
- Microsoft PowerPoint 2016 or later (Office 365 recommended)
- Understanding of basic design concepts helpful but not required
Customization Options
This course can be tailored to your organization’s data and communication needs. We can work with your actual datasets—whether sales figures, survey results, performance metrics, or research data—and create infographics specific to your industry and audience. If you have brand guidelines or target specific platforms (social media, print reports, presentations), we can adjust the curriculum to match your output requirements.