P1 Infographic Case Study

Click here to see the interactivity

Unit 4 Reading

Chapter 2: Process Discovery breaks down into different sections for different topics. "Wrangling Audience and Content" when your deigning information design you would want to tailor to your target audience by identifying and prioritizing, understanding the requirements that breaks down into emotional and physical. "Content Analysis" Where people wait for a mass of data to better inform of their clients to better plan a way of action like reviewing and analyzing, consider auditing relevant competitors, and so on. To be able to review the content to make sure you have all needed information, prioritizing the message towards its audiences. Planning for the long run and enough "firepower" to power through their designs. The next section is about the creative brief, which I am quite familiarized with from my previous classes such "writing for interactive media" and "computer drawing" where all our projects requires a case study which where the creative brief lies in. In the book it explains that there's a lot of debate what is the right type of creative brief but it all comes down to many variables such as who is the audience? Finally the last section topic is "Personas and Scenarios" which I am familiar with from my "writing for interactive media" class. I actually had fun creating personas, it was like creating a character for a story but instead of a story its for a scenario for clients to see the relevance within the products. It is a cost effective way to formulate the personas.


Use of Drugs by State
http://www.infochimps.com/datasets/estimated-use-of-selected-drugs-by-state-2004-2005/downloads/118816

Drug use by Type and Age
http://www.infochimps.com/datasets/drug-use-by-type-of-drug-and-age-group

Us Resident by Population and Race
http://www.infochimps.com/datasets/us-resident-population-by-region-race-and-hispanic-origin-2000

P2 Research

 The Piratebay  2008-2012 Dataset
http://www.csg.uzh.ch/publications/data/piratebay.html

2011-2012 NBA Season Summary
http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2012.html

2012 NFL Team Standings
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2012/

Unit 3 Reading

For the Unit 3 reading, Chapter  6 "Information Graphics Case Study" it goes over a series of case studies from different designers in a variety of different topics. Within each case studies the different designers gave their input and some advice and tips in designing infographics. Creating a strong relationship with clients is which I agree a good thing, when I design for my friends, I try to keep in touch a lot with updates and what not and help them understand what I go for and likewise I take in what they want into consideration. Making a complex inforgraphic to be able to let audiences who are not familiar in that genre understandable is I agree tough, for example my infographic on "how a turbocharger works" would sound complex to audiences who are not familiar in that kind of area, my job is try my best to clarify it and not to overwhelm them with information. I have the tendency to like being center of attention with loud bright colors. I am quite the same way in design. Although the case study for the "A Passion for Mapping" they suggested that to display a lot of information its best to subdue the color that way audiences can intake the information easier because too much color can be too distracting.

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/awesome-free-tools-infographics/
Shows 10 tools to help with infographics.

http://www.thegraphicsranch.com/tips.php
some basic tips with information graphics.

Unit 2 Reading

In Unit 2's reading, "Design Toolkit". It goes over many tools that are available for the information design. The first tool was color, which the author explain that its the most basic and simple way to improve your information design. I agree with him, color will add some flare and group information clearly. Type styling is the next the tool, I find this can help audiences to find what they are looking for by skimming through headlines for example. Weight and scale is the next one, he explains that it having the weight and scale changed can show whats more important. I feel that audiences will comprehend it as "bigger is better". The next one on the agenda is Structure. I feel every design has a basic foundation, that here is where structure applies, for example like having a grid system to lay out complex information to be more legible. Next toolkit would be grouping where I agree that this can help readers realize the importance or certain groupings and visual hierarchy plays the role of that. Graphic elements which is one of the older ways of information design is something that history has taught us how to convey complex information to audiences in a simpler manner. I also find Imagery to be a powerful attraction to reel in readers, especially ones with shorter attention span. However above all else sound and motion would be the most eye catching element but can also be one's downfall for being too distracting.

http://uxdesign.smashingmagazine.com/2012/09/14/guidelines-designing-audio/
this one relates to the audio part of the reading.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2011/10/14/the-dos-and-donts-of-infographic-design/
this article relates to many of the topics that were pointed out on the reading.

P1 Sketches

P1 Competitive Analysis/Inspiration

P1 Project Statement

Background

HKS began tuning gasoline-powered engines in a farm shed at the foot of Mt. Fuji, Japan. They had a dream to build high-performance engines that OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) dared not produce. In 1974, that dream came true as Hasegawa built and engineered the first commercialized turbocharger kit for passenger cars. 

Client

HKS USA

Target audience

Automotive enthusiasts and professionally sponsored race cars.

Objectives

To provide visual illustration of how a turbocharger works 

To provide a step by step process of how air goes through the intake/turbo/exhaust

To boldly represent the credibility of HKS as the leading high performance company

Obstacles

To differentiate the temperature of the air that goes through the process of the whole exhaust system

To clearly show the process without cluttering the who infographic

Key benefit

The visual explanation can help automotive enthusiasts who are interested but don't quite understand how the it works in a simpler and clearer way to comprehend.

Tone

Interactive, knowledgeable, and entertaining.

Media

Web, PDF.

Unit 1 Reading

In the first chapter of the reading "About Information Design" it goes over topics such as who practices it, the reason why we need information design, the related fields that incorporate information design, how it is ubiquitous, how it gained great importance as civilization progressed, and so much more. The lists of people who practices information design are graphic designers, information architect (IA), interaction designer, user experience designer (UX), usability specialist, human factor specialists (ergonomics), human-computer interaction interaction specialist (HCI), and plain language expert. It is ubiquitous because you see it in railroad signage, maps, websites, brochures, instruction manual, ballots, exhibits (libraries, museums, science centers), books, product assembly, and automated phone systems. The world are publishing over 3,000 books daily, in the English language today it consists of 540,000 words which is five times more than during Shakespeare's time. The information within the New York Times Contains more information than a person in the 18th century would come across. Back in the old days Americans only had access to local newspaper and have only two to three tv stations. The exponential growth of technology is so rapid that it is also gave light to designers and created more design interface opportunities like personal computers, mobile phones, PDA's, MP3 Players, and so much more! Information design is also very cost efficient by helping thoroughly thiking through all of the issues that lie within a project.

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1662261/the-future-of-information-touchscreens-everywhere-video


http://michaelbabwahsingh.com/2012/03/02/10-challenges-facing-information-design-today/

P1 Information Sources

-How turbochargers work

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/turbo.htm
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/4306310

-How breather mods work (intake, manifold, headers, test pipes, exhaust)

http://store.newlevelmotorsports.com/faandmyabafa.html
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/header_basics/viewall.html
http://www.squidoo.com/do-performance-parts-really-work-auto-parts-online
http://www.modified.com/tech/9912scc_intake_exhaust_systems/
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/nissan-350z-design4.htm

-What consists in the Paleo diet (also known as the cave man diet)

http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2010/10/04/the-beginners-guide-to-the-paleo-diet/