The best examples of infographic layout styles: grid vs. freeform examples

Let’s skip the theory lecture and go straight to how this actually looks in the wild. When designers talk about examples of infographic layout styles: grid vs. freeform examples, they’re usually comparing two vibes:

• The grid infographic that feels like a cleanly organized dashboard.
• The freeform infographic that feels like a guided visual story or poster.

You see both styles everywhere: in public health explainers, corporate reports, social campaigns, and those long-scroll data stories your coworker sends you at 11:47 p.m. with “you HAVE to read this.”

Below are concrete, real-world style patterns you can borrow, remix, or unapologetically steal (ethically) for your own work.

Classic grid layout examples: when structure is your best friend

Let’s start with the grid side of the examples of infographic layout styles: grid vs. freeform examples spectrum. Grid layouts behave like a spreadsheet that went to design school—everything lines up, content snaps into place, and your audience doesn’t have to hunt for meaning.

1. Public health data dashboard-style infographic

Think of the COVID-era dashboards from organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those weren’t technically “infographics” in the poster sense, but designers constantly borrow that visual language.

A grid-style infographic inspired by that look might:

• Use a 3x3 or 4x4 grid of panels, each panel covering one metric: cases, hospitalizations, vaccination rates, trends over time.
• Place charts in predictable positions—line charts always top row, maps always bottom row, key numbers in a consistent corner.
• Keep legend placement consistent, so users know exactly where to look for definitions or color explanations.

This is a go-to example of an infographic layout style where the grid helps people compare numbers quickly and trust the information.

2. Benefits comparison grid for HR or healthcare

Another strong example of infographic layout style is the classic benefits comparison grid—used by HR teams, hospitals, and clinics.

Picture an infographic for an employer-sponsored health plan, referencing information similar to what you’d see on Healthcare.gov:

• Each column is a plan type (Bronze, Silver, Gold).
• Each row is a feature (premium, deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, telehealth coverage).
• Colors stay restrained, with subtle shading to guide the eye horizontally.

This grid layout makes it incredibly easy to scan left-to-right and decide which plan works best. It’s not flashy, but it’s extremely effective—one of the best examples of grid-style infographic logic in action.

3. Social media “9-tile” infographic series

You’ve seen this one on Instagram and LinkedIn: a 9-tile square layout that could live as a single infographic or be sliced into a carousel.

Designers often:

• Use each tile as a module: one stat, one quote, or one icon.
• Create a consistent baseline grid so typography and icons line up no matter how the tiles are rearranged.
• Use alternating background colors so the set feels rhythmic but still structured.

This is a modern 2024–2025-friendly example of an infographic layout style where the grid supports multi-platform publishing: same layout, cropped and repurposed for social feeds, email headers, and presentations.

4. Educational step-by-step grid for schools or training

Universities and training programs often publish infographics explaining processes like admissions steps or research workflows. Think of a visual guide from a place like Harvard University breaking down a multi-step process.

In a grid-style version:

• Steps are blocked into equal rectangles: Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, etc.
• Each block has a number, icon, short title, and 1–2 lines of copy.
• The grid keeps the steps aligned even if one step needs slightly more text.

This is a clean example of infographic layout style where clarity beats creativity, and the grid quietly does the heavy lifting.

Freeform layout examples: when story beats symmetry

Now let’s wander over to the other side of examples of infographic layout styles: grid vs. freeform examples—the freeform layouts. These feel less like a spreadsheet and more like a comic page, poster, or illustrated journey.

Freeform doesn’t mean chaos. It means the story decides the structure, not the columns.

5. Long-scroll “journey” infographic for climate or health

Think of those long, scrollable explainers you see in news outlets or nonprofit campaigns: following a single character, timeline, or journey.

Imagine an infographic about how heatwaves affect health, drawing on data from sources like the National Institutes of Health:

• The layout flows top to bottom like a path, with curved arrows leading from section to section.
• Illustrations of a person move through different scenes: at home, outside, at work, at the doctor.
• Text blocks hug the illustrations, not a rigid grid—some sections are wide, others narrow, depending on the content.

This is a textbook freeform example of infographic layout style. The story is the spine; the layout bends around it.

6. Radial / circular story map

A very on-trend 2024 layout is the radial infographic, often used for systems thinking, ecosystems, or anything with a hub-and-spoke relationship.

Picture an infographic explaining a community health ecosystem, with a hospital at the center and services radiating out—primary care, mental health, nutrition programs, telehealth, and so on.

In this freeform approach:

• The center circle holds the core concept.
• Surrounding segments are unequal wedges or organic shapes, sized by importance instead of squeezed into a grid.
• Lines and icons weave through the layout, connecting related elements across the circle.

It’s still structured, but it’s not locked to horizontal and vertical lines. This kind of circular layout is one of the best examples of freeform infographic design that still feels organized.

7. Illustrated timeline with irregular beats

Timelines used to be rigid horizontal lines with evenly spaced dates. Modern designers are loosening that up.

Imagine a timeline infographic about medical breakthroughs, referencing discoveries you might read about on Mayo Clinic or similar sites:

• Major breakthroughs get larger illustrated scenes; minor events become small markers.
• The path zigzags down the page, with dates placed where they visually make sense, not on a strict grid.
• Some events cluster closer together to reflect periods of rapid change.

This freeform layout lets the visual weight match the narrative weight, instead of forcing every year into the same box.

8. Storyboard-style nonprofit impact infographic

Nonprofits love freeform layouts when they need to connect data to human stories.

Picture an impact infographic for a food security organization:

• The page is divided loosely into scenes: “Before,” “Intervention,” “After.”
• Data points (meals served, households reached) are tucked into the environment: on buildings, signs, or objects in the illustration.
• The viewer’s eye follows characters moving through each scene, not a rigid grid.

This is a strong example of infographic layout style where emotion and narrative outrank precise alignment, and the freeform approach makes the story feel alive.

Grid vs. freeform: how to choose the right layout style

When you compare all these examples of infographic layout styles: grid vs. freeform examples, a pattern appears:

Grid layouts shine when:

• You expect readers to compare numbers or categories.
• The content is modular: many small pieces that could stand alone.
• You’re designing for fast scanning: dashboards, reports, social carousels, training materials.

Freeform layouts shine when:

• You’re telling a story with a beginning, middle, and end.
• The content has emotional weight: health journeys, climate impact, social issues.
• You want to control reading order with visual cues, not just left-to-right scanning.

A good rule of thumb: if you could rearrange the panels and the infographic still works, you’re probably in grid territory. If rearranging the panels breaks the story, you’re in freeform land.

Hybrid layout examples: mixing grid and freeform in one infographic

Some of the best examples of infographic layout styles: grid vs. freeform examples actually sit in the middle. Hybrid layouts borrow the clarity of grids and the personality of freeform storytelling.

9. Structured top, freeform bottom

Common in 2024 corporate and nonprofit reports:

• The top section uses a grid: 3–4 key metrics in tidy boxes, icons aligned, typography consistent.
• The bottom section breaks into a freeform story: a case study, a timeline, or a character journey.

Readers get the quick stats first (grid) and then scroll into the narrative (freeform). It’s a layout mullet: business up top, party down below.

10. Freeform hero, grid details

Another hybrid example of infographic layout style: a big freeform hero graphic at the top with a diagram, illustration, or map, followed by a modular grid of supporting facts.

For instance, a health infographic might:

• Start with a freeform illustration showing how sleep affects the body.
• Follow with a grid of myth-vs-fact panels, each panel aligning cleanly.

This lets you grab attention with a freeform, expressive hero while keeping the nitty-gritty info organized and scannable.

2024–2025 trends shaping grid vs. freeform infographic layouts

When you look at current examples of infographic layout styles: grid vs. freeform examples, a few trends stand out:

Mobile-first, thumb-friendly grids

Designers are building infographics that can be sliced into vertical panels for phones. That favors:

• Stacked grids: one column on mobile, two or three on desktop.
• Tile-based storytelling that works as a feed post, a story, or a slide deck.

The grid becomes a flexible system instead of a rigid table.

Scrollytelling and narrative-heavy freeform

Long-scroll data stories—especially around health, climate, and social issues—lean heavily on freeform layouts. Designers are using:

• Animated paths and arrows to guide the eye.
• Irregular section shapes that break the rectangle habit.
• Layered illustrations and charts that overlap and interact.

The goal is to make data feel like a journey, not homework.

Data transparency and source callouts

In both grid and freeform examples, you’ll see more emphasis on sources and methodology. Designers are:

• Adding clearly labeled source areas, often referencing organizations like CDC, NIH, and major universities.
• Using small-grain grids in the background to subtly signal structure and accuracy, even in freeform pieces.

This matters if you’re working with health or science topics, where trust is everything.

Practical tips for choosing and building your layout style

When you’re staring at a blank artboard wondering whether to go grid or freeform, ask yourself:

• What’s the main job of this infographic? Explaining numbers? Go grid or hybrid. Telling a story? Lean freeform.
• How will it be shared? If it’s going on social or into a slide deck, a grid or hybrid layout is often easier to slice and reuse.
• How much content do you really have? If you only have a few big ideas, freeform can stretch and dramatize them. If you have 20+ small points, a grid will keep you from visual chaos.

You can also sketch both options quickly:

• One thumbnail with 3–4 rows and columns for a grid version.
• One thumbnail with a single flowing path or central illustration for a freeform version.

Compare which sketch feels more natural for your story. That tiny bit of up-front thinking often saves hours of fiddling later.

FAQ: examples of grid and freeform infographic layouts

Q1: Can you give a quick example of a grid infographic I could build today?
Yes. Create a 4-panel grid explaining one topic from four angles—for example, “Healthy Sleep Basics”: one panel for duration, one for environment, one for habits, and one for when to talk to a doctor (with information aligned to sources like Mayo Clinic). Keep icons, headings, and text styles consistent across all panels.

Q2: What are some examples of freeform infographic layouts for social media?
A popular approach is a vertical story strip: start with a bold title scene, then stack irregular panels that feel like comic frames. Each panel can bend around the artwork rather than staying in strict rectangles. Use arrows, numbering, or character movement to guide the viewer.

Q3: Is there a simple example of mixing grid and freeform in one infographic?
Yes. Use a freeform hero illustration at the top to set the mood, then follow with a 2x2 grid of supporting facts or stats. The hero can be loose and expressive; the grid underneath keeps the information structured and easy to compare.

Q4: Which layout style is better for presenting medical or scientific data?
When you’re working with detailed medical or scientific data—especially anything aligned with sources like CDC, NIH, or university research—a grid or hybrid layout usually works best. It supports clear labeling, consistent chart placement, and easier comparison, while still allowing a freeform hero or story section if you want emotional impact.

Q5: Are there any situations where freeform layouts are a bad idea?
Freeform layouts can backfire when readers need to extract exact numbers quickly or when the content must be printed in many formats and sizes. In those cases, a grid or hybrid layout keeps everything predictable and easier to adapt.

When you study these examples of infographic layout styles: grid vs. freeform examples, the real takeaway is this: layout isn’t just decoration. It’s how you decide what your audience notices first, what they compare, and what they remember. Use grids when you want order. Use freeform when you want a story. Use both when you want to do a little of everything—and make the layout work as hard as the data.