Info Graphic

Open publication - Free publishing - More infographic

Chapter Seven Reading

This weeks reading was on Interactive case studies. The author talks about how they differ from a poster or other print production because it offers the users more ways of explore the content. Having a project interactive gives people structure and helps them navigate though a designated pathway. This works really well if you are working on a project that has a lot of information and you want to convey it though a series of steps (you click on something and it brings up more information) this is basically a way of accommodating multiple entry points. After the author gives the reason behind the use of having an interactive case study he goes into talking about the steps on how to get there (from establishing a team, the objective, the problems, the constraints).  After you establish what your objectives are and how you are going to get there, you need to make sure the design makes sense. The author quotes David Lai saying, “ we believe it’s crucial for designers to intimately understand information architecture. Otherwise they rely on somebody else to think things through and lose huge opportunities to think innovatively about structure and navigation.” If you understand the information then you design will make sense.  Do your research and ask people for input because those are the people you are ultimately trying to teach the information to.

Week 6 Reading and Assingment 3 Proposal

Today we were suppose to to go to the site http://www.niceone.org/infodesignpatterns/index.php5#/patterns.php5 and under patterns there were a huge list of categories about Arcs,Diagrams, maps, and charts.  The first section was thematic maps. Thematic maps are a type of chart or mape designed to show a specific theme connected with a specific area. These maps can portray a variety of things ranging from physical, to social, or any other aspects of a city, state, or region. An example of what this map can be used for are things like population sizes or to  show the spread of a specific diseases.

http://nicksmaps.blogspot.com/2010/07/thematic-maps.html
http://soils.usda.gov/use/thematic/temp_regimes.html

the other type of map we read about were scatterplots. A scatter plot is a mathematical diagram using Coordinates to display values for two types of variable sets. A scatter plot is used when a variable exists that is under the control of the experimenter. so there can be outliers depending on the size of the group...not used very often.


Assingment 3

For Assignment Three I want to have Yahoo be my client I am going to create a a 365 with everyday being a different specific theme that goes off of  a old time saying, an example would be, "it's like finding a needle in a hay stack or getting a taste of ones own medicine. These sayings will not be shown instead there will be a picture that describes the saying. This way its like a game you can guess what it is based on the picture and then see if your right. When you slide over the image of the action the saying will appear. it will also give you the background information on where the saying originated and how it became a saying the the first place. Its a game and you learn something at the same time.

Reading week 5

In this weeks reading we were to read three different articles talking about info graphics. the first article was 10 Challenges Facing Information Design Today, the second was The Do’s and Don’ts of Infographic Design, and the third was Today In Horrible Infographics: 5 Keys toCreating Successful Infographics.

The first article was interesting it pointed out many problems that information design is dealing with today but at the same time as it was calling attention to these points, it wasn't giving any design strategy on how to fix the over all problem. the author names out the ten challenges that designers face (overproduction, misunderstanding, undervalue, fragmentation, scarcity, Amnesia, Misappropriation, commercialization, commodification, and de humanization). All of these he discusses issues but in no way tries to solve them. I feel like it was an ok read but it was only half written the author apposed questions in my head and left me with no answers.

The second article talks about the DOs and Dont's of info graphic design. The author talks about how design is an ever evolving industry that we need to stay on top of as designers; the only thing that stays consistant is the demand for good design. Although design is ever evolving there is one thing that keeps it on track and that is the dos and dont's of design, the sky is the limit as long as you play by the right rules. An info graphic is a data visualization so you need to show it not tell it, typography needs to play to the beat of your drum, it can make or break a design so it needs to be used in the correct way to send the right message. Organize the storyline make sure it makes sense and has a beginning a middle and an end( you can do this by taking wire frames and thinking outside the box. clear things up with color; the same way typography plays a role in the info graphic so does color. In the ending statement the author says these are just guidelines a way to create a successful info graphics, but it doesn't mean that by not following these rules that you cant create something that is just as effective. I enjoyed this read.

The third article is a lot like the first in which it point of bad things but doesn't combat it with anything good. The author makes fun of an info graphic and says why its bad without ways on how to make it better thus it tells you what not to do but it doesn't say why or how to fix it. This would be considered a horrible critic in any art class.

some articles on infographic material

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/09/11/25-useful-data-visualization-and-infographics-resources/

http://www.smashingapps.com/2011/11/24/34-stunning-infographics-to-understand-the-world-of-social-media.html

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/50-informative-and-well-designed-infographics/

cool you tube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyIMqsX3iH8

project 2 project statement

Background

24 hour fitness is looking to increase the sales of membership in the United States of America. The chain as a whole is requesting an info graphic that shows obesity in the united states in corelation to locations where their gyms are. it will also link reasons why nutritionally some states might have a higher obesity rate than others basied on diet, lifestyle, and race. 

Target Audiences

Men and women age 16 – 45 or people that care about nutrition and body image.

Objective

To create an info graphic that 24 hour fitness can use to inform / inspire customers to buy a membership.

Obstacles

Many people view themselves as not being the majority so they might just choose to ignore the infographic.

Key Benefit

To Increase money flow to 24 hour fitness along with the increase awareness for customers who are unsure of the benefits of eating healthy and regular exercise.

Support Statements / Reasons Why

To increase business and show the benefits of exercising and eating healthy.

Tone

 fun/energetic, clean, sleek, positive

Media

Print (brochure/poster)

Creative Considerations

n/a

In chapter two the author talks about how politics, diplomacy, and consensus all play a role in whether a design will work or not, it plays the outcome of design projects and because of this designers started to develop methodologies that take account for these issues. Developing methodologies however only works to a certain extent because everyone has a different meaning to these issues (politics, diplomacy, and consensus) so what it ultimately comes down to competing departments and what they bring to the table that creates change in a creative way. The biggest of the three issues are politics which are all about peoples interests this can be hard because people with constantly argue amongst each other to define what is of interest to them materially and organizationally, to help make this a little less difficult the author goes through steps on how to wrangle an audience and it's content the first step is to know your audience, then identify and prioritize, and understanding the requirements (emotional and physical). Another thing that plays a role is Plain language, which also fits into how you accomplish the above principles. Writing plan language is not about reformatting and making your sentences shorter to look better, it’s the process of rethinking the whole object you trying to represent. What is it you are trying to say, who are you trying to say it to(target) and what are the reasons. After this the author goes into talking about the creative briefs and personas and scenarios that showed so interesting ways on how to do things that I already knew a lot about.

I am still trying to figure out ideas on what I think you are looking for I think I want to do something with caffeine and how it effects a big group of people, Divorce rates around the world, health of individuals that links to Nutrition and exercise based on geographical location,  or recycling how much people recycle where and how much of that is actually being recycled.  those are a few of my ideas but I still need to find the data so my ideas might change. I have also peeked through some inspiration I think these might be examples of things we are looking for that works for this type of info graphic project. telling a story with data....