Week 9 Day 1 (March 12) - Homework

Complete Information Design Exercise

- Final designs must be printed + pinned by 9:30/1:30, Wednesday, March 14
- Upload mind maps, initial concept sketches, information sheets, rough designs and final designs to blog post titled "Information Design Exercise" by by 9:30/1:30, Wednesday, March 14

Week 8 Day 2 (March 7) - Homework

1. Work on Information Design Exercise (Food Consumption in the US). Be sure you are assessing the integrity and quality of your data visualizations through the integrity check list

Integrity of Content Displayed in Information Design

• Is the display revealing the truth?
• Is the representation accurate?
• Is the data carefully documented?
• Do the methods of display avoid false readings of the data?
• Are appropriate comparisons + contexts shown?

2. Continue Visual Journal blog daily entries.

3. Work on research and concept development for History of Communication project.

US Food Consumption: Information Design Exercise

Using statistics collected by the US Census Bureau regarding Food Consumption in the United States (PDFs provided below), you are to create an information design document that improves the usability of detailed and complex information. The specific type of visual device used in your final design (table, chart, diagram, map) is up to you, as long as you are focusing on ways to make the visualization of information efficient and effective. Consider the Edward Tufte examples and theories presented last week, as well as typography and graphic reduction guidelines covered throughout the semester.

Choose one set of US Census statistics from the following list:
Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities

Per Capita Utilization of Selected Commercially-Produced Fruits and Vegetables

Required document size: 11"x17", color

Deadlines: 
Process Sketches and Mind Mapping due for review by end of class Monday, March 5
Information Design Document (Printed + Pinned) due for review Wednesday, March 14

Objectives for exercise
1. Improve the usability for comparisons, contrast, or visualized relationships between complex data
2. Application of characteristics and theories regarding successful information design
3. Consideration of design principles and how visual choices improve communication of message

Integrity of Content Displayed in Information Design
1. Is the display revealing the truth?
2. Is the representation accurate?
3. Are the data carefully documented?
4. Do the methods of display avoid false readings of the data?
5. Are appropriate comparisons + contexts shown?

Week 7 Day 1 (Feb 27) - Homework

1. Find at least 3 examples of effective information design (must not be identical to examples shown in class; preferably examples not found online; must not be considered infographics).

Photocopy and/or scan each of your three chosen designs, then write up 1-2 paragraphs, for each design, that clearly explain and analyze the following topics .

1)What is the purpose of the information design. What did you learn from the information?


2) What specific characteristics made the information design successful?


3) Where there any failing characteristics of the information design [chart junk? aesthetic issues? lack of information]? If so why did they hinder the clarification of understanding the facts?

Post reflection question responses and scans of three information designs to blog post titled "Effective Information Design Examples"

Be sure to consult previous lecture notes and use appropriate terminology. Be prepared to discuss your finding in groups next class session, Wednesday, Feb 29.

2. Burn CD will all exercise work (process and designs) completed so far in the semester; Exercises should include of the following:

• 10x10 (Energy Drink Product Design)
• Cropping Exercise (L shapped crop marks)
• Ken Burns Slideshow
• Letter Action Verb
• Farmers Market Icon (final and revised)
• Produce Process Animation
• Designer Case Study Research Presentation

3. Part of wednesday class will be devoted to continued research for Timeline of Visual Communication/Writing/Typography project. Bring materials to work on project progress.

Information Design

Recommended Resources:

Envisioning Information (Edward Tufte)

Visual Explanations (Edward Tufte)

The Visual Display of Quantitative Information (Edward Tufte)

Beautiful Evidence (Edward Tufte)

Else/Where: Mapping — New Cartographies of Networks and Territories (Janet Abrams, Peter Hall)

Data Flow: Visualising Information in Graphic Design (Robert Klanten)

Visual complexity : mapping patterns of information (Manuel Lima)

Visualize This: The FlowingData Guide to Design, Visualization, and Statistics (Nathan Yau)

The Information Design Handbook (Jenn Visocky O'Grady)

You Are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps of the Imagination (Katharine Harmon)

Information Design Workbook: Graphic approaches, solutions, and inspiration plus 30 case studies (Kim Baer)

Maps of the Imagination: The Writer as Cartographer (Peter Turchi)

Cartographies of Time: A History of the Timeline (Anthony Grafton + Daniel Rosenberg)

Week 6 Day 2 (Feb 22) - Homework

1. Continue Visual Journal blog daily entries. 


2. Continue research for History of Communication project. Creation process will begin after Spring Break.

Week 6 Day 1 (Feb 20) - Homework

1. Continue animation for Produce Process Exercise. Final renders due at the end of the next class session (12:30/4:30) Wednesday, Feb 22. Upload mind map, storyboards and final h.264 quicktime to blog post titled Produce Process Exercise by 12:30/4:30pm.


Will be graded based on: design + composition aesthetic, consistency in graphically reduced icon visual style, rhythm and pacing, technique with transformation animations.