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Open in new tab Canva offers exceptional templates for infographics with a free or paid subscription. However, it is important to keep in mind Reynolds’ keys to design. How does the template relate to the story I want to tell? Which will most effectively reach my audience? First, choose a template based on the overall layout. Everything else can be easily modified. For my Treasure Hunters infographic, I wanted to showcase each week’s project with a brief description. Each week needed to stand out, yet still be a part of the whole. As I began to modify the template, I started with the images. They were the main focus, with text, color, and type following to compliment the images. Reynolds explains, “…the photograph captures a moment in time, allowing the viewer to slow down and think and wonder and reflect” (2014, p. 98). Children and their parents need to be drawn into the infographic, linger on the images, sparking excitement to attend the program. Canva makes it easy to switch from one background choice to another, saving the ones you have used. Noticing a common color theme in the images, yellow and blue, I chose the complimentary purple background and font color. Canva breaks down the colors in your images and background, allowing you to choose one of these or other on the color spectrum. The spectrum is challenging. Hovering over a color, a slight move left or right gives a different hue. While not always finding the exact color, you could spend extra time searching the internet for the color’s number. I have not had to do that yet. It takes time to go back and forth between the variables to determine which fits and balances best. Make sure you step away from the project every so often. Another aspect of Canva are the lines and measurements that appear when you are trying to move an object. The feature allows for exact spacing and placement. It is important to remember to cite any images you personally upload and use in your design. Children/Students will enjoy the variety of design capabilities for projects like book reports, research/data presentation, character studies, and a get-to-know- me assignments. School and public librarians can use infographics for the Dewey Decimal System, programs, a who’s who of librarians/teachers, how to use the catalog, and library stats.
Reynolds, G. (2014). Presentation Zen design: A simple visual approach to presenting in today’s world (2nd ed.). New Riders/Pearson.