If your document needs to present simple numbers or stats to people, then an infographic style can really help to get that information across. Here’s one idea you can use: part-filled icons to represent percentages or fractions.

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You can create this right in PowerPoint – no special tools needed.

Step 1: Choose an icon. I recommend starting with the inbuilt icons. Or there is a list of icon websites here. Select a solid icon, rather than an outline style.

Step 2: Convert to shape. Select the icon, go to the Graphics Format tab and click Convert to Shape.

Step 3: Part fill the icon. Follow the instructions here, setting your % fill to match the number you are illustrating.

Step 4: Add a clear caption explaining what the number represents.

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There are a few different formats you could use, according to the style of your deck.

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You don’t have to use icons, you could use PowerPoint shapes such as arrows, chevrons, or triangles. Just pick an image that your readers will easily connect to your content.

Having problems with multi-part icons?

Sometimes when you convert an icon to a shape, it becomes multiple objects and the gradient fill will apply to each part separately and looks wrong. To fix that:

Select all the parts

Shape Format tab

Merge Shapes dropdown

Select Union

Now the gradient will apply to the whole icon as a single object.

Looks wrong when you export to PDF?

There is a bit of a bug when you are creating a PDF with gradients, so sometimes if you have a part-filled icon like this it will end up with a smooth gradient in the PDF instead. The quick fix for this is to turn it into an image instead:

Copy the icon

Home > Paste dropdown > Picture. Or you can just paste it and then from the little clipboard tag that appears, choose Picture.

Move the original icon off the slide – don't delete it, in case you need to edit it in the future

Move the pasted image to where the icon was. Normally the image will be the same size as the icon, but adjust if you need to.