Timeline Infographics help make complex information easier to follow, more thought-provoking, and simpler to consume. There are several types of timeline infographics: project timelines, historical timelines, process timelines, event planning timelines, etc.
The four details your Timeline Infographic should outline are dates, descriptions, headers, and images.
With a timeline, you want to give some information regarding key events in time, so each event should have a specified date and a short description.
Pro tip: having the same amount of text for each description will make it easier for you to create a symmetrical design that is pleasing to the eye.
When creating a Timeline Infographic keep in mind that simple, uncomplicated images, like an icon, work best and are what set it apart from just a plain timeline.
There are three standard Timeline Infographic layout designs: vertical, horizontal, and snake.
You must think about two things when choosing the best layout for your infographic; the number of points in your outline, and the length of your descriptions. The vertical layout is the most popular layout, coming in two alignments: centered and left-aligned.
Nediger, Midori. "How to Create a Timeline Infographic: The Definitive Guide." Venngage, 20 Dec. 2022, https://venngage.com/blog.
The centered vertical layout is flexible, having room for long descriptions and images, and is the most recognizable. Use a centered vertical layout when you have many facts with a mixture of both text and pictures.
Horizontal timeline layouts are typically used in presentations. They do not always translate well into an infographic. If you are going to use a horizontal layout it may be a smaller piece of a larger infographic or have less than seven points and very little text. In most cases, you are better off with a vertical or snake layout.
Left-aligned vertical timelines are perfect for when you need to give a hierarchy of intricate details or as a list of steps. They are good for timelines that are text-heavy, with few pictures and lots of sections.
Like its name, the snake layout winds throughout the page like a snake. The snake layout works best for Timeline Infographics with lots of sections (10+), and lots of visuals, but very little text making them the most space-efficient.
Pro tip: When using a snake layout use as little text as you can, drawing attention to your visuals.
Images from:
Nediger, Midori. "How to Create a Timeline Infographic: The Definitive Guide." Venngage, 20 Dec. 2022, https://venngage.com/blog.
