Should We Obsess Over Alignment?

One of the most important things to keep in mind when working on an infographic project is to keep all the elements well arranged and to avoid clutter at all costs. The comparison below portrays how proper alignment makes for a better looking infographic.

When you align the elements of your infographic (title boxes, text frames, graphics, icons, etc.), your visual will look organized and attractive. Proper alignment creates a sharper and more orderly design, connecting the content elements visually — and it makes it easier on the eye as well.

Visual objects alignment: Edge and Center

For visual objects like images, icons, charts, and statistics, there are two types of alignment that can be used: you can use either the edge alignment or center alignment to organize your visual elements.

• For any objects with flat edges, you can use “edge alignment”.
• If you have a group of objects in different sizes, use “center alignment”.

Here are some examples so that you can see the difference between edge and center alignments. The examples below are arranged horizontally; using the same principles, you can also arrange them vertically.

Text alignment: Four common types

Text alignment depends on the message delivery and the tone you would like to set. It is also highly influenced by your design. Here are four common text alignments with examples for your reference.

• Fully justified text: This type of alignment is usually considered more formal. It can be rather difficult to read at times, but when designed properly, it can produce a neat, clear layout.
• Left-aligned text: This alignment is used most often. It produces an informal arrangement that is easy on the eye. Using this alignment requires less effort to design.
• Right-aligned text: This is uncommonly used. But, when used appropriately, it can produce a neater design compared to left-aligned text.
• Center-aligned text: This is another more commonly used text alignment. It looks better on accompanying visuals that are round or non-rectangular in shape. It is also typically used for headers and sub headers.

The Bottom Line

When you align your content elements correctly, your infographics will look organized, well-spaced, and attractive.

Basic alignment principles

Object alignments can be arranged in two forms. When in doubt, just remember that whichever alignment you use, ensure they look organized and that there is sufficient white space in between objects.

To recap,

• Edge Alignment: Best use for when your objects have flat edges.
• Center Alignment: When you have multiple objects in various shapes and sizes, go for center alignment.

There are four standard text alignments. Text alignment may be influenced by your design and layout.

• Fully justified text: is considered to be more formal. It can be rather difficult to read at times, but when designed properly, it can produce a neat and clear layout.
• Left-aligned text: Often used for its friendly and informal arrangement. Using this alignment requires less effort to design.
• Right-aligned text: Rarely used. When used correctly, it can produce neat outlook. For instance, when a chart or image is aligned to the right, the text should be right-aligned as well.
• Center-aligned text: Looks better on accompanying visuals that are round in shape. It is also typically used for headers and sub headers.

When it comes to alignment, there is no right or wrong way, but following the tips above will allow you to quickly get a clean and aesthetically pleasing infographic. Regardless of your preference, a good rule of thumb is to remember to keep it consistent! Now that you have some insights on the key principles of alignment, go ahead and make information beautiful.

For more tips on infographic design, along with some advice on how visual storytelling can improve your skills as a designer, marketer, and educator, check out our blog at http://piktochart.com/blog.