Here’s an AI assisted summary of the AI assisted development of an infographic talking about AI assisted production. The results are not final, just thought the process was interesting. I used ChatGPT (Duke’s version) to try to create an infographic and it was horrible.
Objective
Create a professional visual representation of AI-assisted production time savings data from an Excel spreadsheet, showing how AI reduces production time from 22.5 hours to 8.1 hours (36% savings).
Attempted Approaches
1. PDF Creation (Failed)
- Initial attempt to convert HTML to PDF using weasyprint failed due to network restrictions
- Switched to reportlab library for direct PDF generation
- Created a structured PDF with tables, formatting, and color coding
- Issue: While the PDF was technically created, formatting did not display in a similar design as the HTML
2. Excel with Formatting (Partial Success)
- Used openpyxl to create a professionally formatted spreadsheet
- Applied extensive styling: color-coded headers (purple gradient), borders, cell fills, font colors, alignment, and proper column widths
- Included executive summary section, detailed breakdown table, and key insights
- Result: The file worked well as a formatted data table with professional styling, but it wasn’t really an infographic—it was more like a well-organized spreadsheet. The format is good for data analysis but not ideal for visual presentation purposes
I’ve seen several examples of people creating infographics in Excel so that was my expectation:
Successful Approach: Iterative HTML Development
Initial HTML Creation
- Created responsive HTML infographic with gradient backgrounds, process cards, and comparison charts
- Included executive summary with key metrics and detailed process breakdown
Iterative Refinements (5 rounds)
- Corrected overall savings percentage from 64% to 36%
- Removed redundant “Total Time Investment Comparison” bar chart
- Removed redundant “Key Insight” callout box
- Updated footer note text about AI capabilities
- Added detailed process notes in small italic font to each card and removed footer entirely
Final Solution I capture the HTML output using Snagit screen capture tool to create the final deliverable. This workflow proved most effective because:
- HTML renders consistently across browsers with full formatting intact
- Real-time preview allows immediate verification of changes
- Iterative editing is straightforward with simple find-replace operations
- Screen capture produces high-quality static image suitable for presentations
- The visual card-based layout is ideal for infographic-style presentation
Technical Observations
Excel is well-suited for creating formatted data tables and reports, but less appropriate for infographic-style visual presentations with card layouts, gradient backgrounds, and modern UI elements. HTML/CSS provides the design flexibility needed for true infographic creation.
The iterative HTML editing process worked exceptionally well for refining the design based on my feedback, resulting in a clean, professional infographic that effectively communicates the time savings data.
