In today's dynamic and data-driven world, the ability to communicate complex information effectively is paramount for designers. As businesses and organizations amass vast amounts of data, designers play a crucial role in transforming this information into visually compelling and easily digestible formats. By presenting data in a visually appealing manner, designers contribute to improved communication between clients, stakeholders, and end-users.
The goal for this project is to use an existing data set and add data sets of your own that enhance and re-contextualize the dataset you were given.
Each student will choose a data set that contains at least 10 items. You will add an additional category to the data. For example super bowl winners (Team, city, year - 10x10x10) and number of chicken wings consumed (x10). You will design an information graphic that represents this data in print form.
In the role of information designer you have the opportunity to find a story(s) within the data and create organizational structure for a viewer to use to read the graphic. Think about how data sets compliment and contrast one another.
“Information may be infinite, however…The organization of information is finite as it can only be organized by LATCH: Location, Alphabet, Time, Category, or Hierarchy.” — Richard Saul Wurman, (1996)
Steps:
Choose Data Set, Analyze and Research
Add Additional Data Set you think will add value and interest
Create a moodboard of the visual language(s)/culture that surrounds your data set. Start broad (film, sport, literature, music) then dig into specific niches (old hollywood, art deco film houses, letterpressed stamps/bookplates…)
Use LATCH to organize your data and visualize layout options via analog/digital sketches
Create 2-3 Visual Concepts (type, image, color, texture etc) of how your data might look
Apply your refined Visual Concept to your layout sketches
Make refinements to your layout based on feedback (readability, hierarchy, orientation, legibility, expressive meaning.
Key Deliverables:
Moodboard
Layout Sketches
Visual Concepts Presentation
Poster Iterations
Final Poster (PDF and Printed) (Printed 18x32 Minimum size)
PDF Process Book (so save all steps/iterations)
IN CLASS
Introduce 10x10x10x10 Information Graphic
https://github.com/orgs/fivethirtyeight/repositories?type=all
https://github.com/BuzzFeedNews
HOMEWORK
Choose (5) data set pairings you would be interested in exploring. Looks for interesting and unexpected connections. Remember the 10x10x10x10 framework. Bring these to class so we can discuss.
Create and print (5 total) 11x17 moodboards for each of the date sets you explored. Think of the visual language(s)/culture that surrounds your data set(s). Start broad (film, sport, literature, music) then dig into specific niches (old hollywood, art deco film houses, letterpressed stamps/bookplates…)
IN CLASS
Information Design presentation
https://app.rawgraphs.io/
Review moodboards, data sets (with your add on’s).
HOMEWORK
Based the feedback you received from your moodboard and initial ideas, organize your data using LATCH. Design (8) layout options via analog/digital sketches. The size of your final must be at minimum 18x32in, you may work on sketches smaller than this, but make sure they are large enough to see and critique on the wall.
Additionally, using your moodboard as a launching point design 2-3 Visual Concepts (combine type, image, color, texture etc) of how your data might look.
Make a digital pdf of all of the above.
IN CLASS
Review Initial sketches
HOMEWORK
Focus on (4) big ideas.
Refine and continue to explore how to visualize your data. Think outside of the expected styles of charts, or how can you customize?
Think about how to give your data context or add addiitonal elements to tell the story you want to tell.
IN CLASS
Review refined sketches
HOMEWORK
Refine your (3) strongest visual solutions and extrapolate them out into larger posters / systems.
Print studies / exploration for class.
IN CLASS
Review Studies and sketches
HOMEWORK
Refine your strongest (2) directions.
IN CLASS
No Class (Design Week)
IN CLASS
Refine your strongest (2) directions.
IN CLASS
Review Posters
HOMEWORK
Chose Final Direction. Explore / Refine and print off a closer to full size copy for us to review.
IN CLASS
Review Poster
HOMEWORK
Refine Poster
Focus on visual hierarchy, typograhic hierarchy, and how to give your information context.
Think about the scale of your overall poster and what type sizes make sense for that scale.
IN CLASS
Review Final Poster Concepts
HOMEWORK
Refine Poster
Focus on visual hierarchy, typograhic hierarchy, and how to give your information context.
Think about the scale of your overall poster and what type sizes make sense for that scale.
Use a grid if you need it and think about alignment horizontally and vertically.
IN CLASS
Review Final Poster Concepts
HOMEWORK
Refine Poster
Focus on visual hierarchy, typograhic hierarchy, and how to give your information context.
Think about the scale of your overall poster and what type sizes make sense for that scale.
Use a grid if you need it and think about alignment horizontally and vertically.
IN CLASS
No Class Project Due 5/12
*Focus on your conference!*
HOMEWORK
IN CLASS
No Class. Project Due 5/12
*Focus on your conference!*
HOMEWORK
IN CLASS
Project Due!
HOMEWORK