Infographic Design with Adobe Illustrator, Excel, and AI (BUR-INFAI200)

This 2-day workshop teaches participants how to turn raw data into clear, compelling infographics, using Excel, Adobe Illustrator, and AI tools at every stage — from the first data cleanup to a finished, export-ready vector graphic. Participants should have basic familiarity with Illustrator's interface (artboards, layers, basic drawing and type tools); this course teaches how to bring data and AI into an existing Illustrator workflow, not Illustrator fundamentals from scratch. Day one focuses on the data and storytelling foundation: organizing and analyzing data in Excel, using AI to summarize, compare, and combine datasets, and choosing the right visual for the story the data tells. Day two moves into vector design and execution: building the infographic in Illustrator, using AI to accelerate concepting and production, and applying core design principles so the final artwork is clear, accurate, and polished for print or digital use.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to take a raw dataset and produce a finished, accurate, well-designed vector infographic, using AI to accelerate the data work and early concepting while applying their own design judgment and Illustrator skills to the finished piece. The workshop closes with a hands-on case study, building a complete infographic from a sample dataset, which can be customized to reflect your organization's data and branding. This course does not cover Illustrator fundamentals, advanced statistical analysis, or your organization's brand and legal approval process — participants should continue to involve marketing, communications, or brand teams before any infographic goes external.

1. AI and Infographics: An Introduction
   1. What makes a good infographic vs. a bad one
   2. Where AI fits in an Illustrator workflow: data, concepting, and production
   3. A tour of the tools used in this workshop: Illustrator, Excel, and an AI assistant
2. Working with Data in Excel
   1. Cleaning and organizing raw data for visualization
   2. Using AI to summarize, compare, and combine datasets
   3. Identifying the story in your data: trends, comparisons, outliers, proportions
3. Choosing the Right Visual for Your Data
   1. Matching chart and diagram types to data stories
   2. Common chart mistakes and how to avoid them
   3. Using AI to suggest visual approaches before opening Illustrator
4. Infographic Design Principles for Vector Work
   1. Visual hierarchy, layout, and the reader's eye path
   2. Color systems, typography, and custom iconography
   3. Designing for scale: artboards, print vs. digital, and export considerations
5. From Excel to Illustrator: Moving Data into Design
   1. Bringing analyzed data and chart concepts from Excel into Illustrator
   2. Using AI to generate a first-pass concept, layout, or icon set
   3. Building a reusable template and design system in Illustrator
6. Data Visualization in Illustrator
   1. Adobe Illustrator's chart and graph tools
   2. Hands-on: building core infographic elements (charts, icons, comparisons, timelines) as vector artwork
   3. Using Illustrator's hidden tools for infographic data visualization
7. Polish, Accessibility, and Quality Check
   1. Reviewing for accuracy: making sure visuals don't distort the underlying data
   2. Accessibility basics: color contrast, text size, legibility at scale
   3. Final polish: alignment, consistency, and export-ready files
8. Case Study and Wrap-Up
   1. Case study: build a complete infographic from raw data to finished vector artwork
   2. Presenting and critiquing infographics as a group
   3. Discussion: applying this workflow to your own projects
   4. Resources and next steps

Each student receives a comprehensive set of materials, including course notes and all class examples.