Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Unit 3 Hotlinks
Smashing Magazine Data visualization modern approaches
Web designer depot 50 great examples of data visualization
Examples of Data Visualization
GOOD water consumption infographic - one of many on their website.
GE Data Visualization
Web designer depot 50 great examples of data visualization
Examples of Data Visualization
GOOD water consumption infographic - one of many on their website.
GE Data Visualization
Unit 3 Reading Summary
Chapter 20: Beautiful Visualization
Visualization Indexed by Jessica Hagy
I really enjoyed the simplicity of this chapter. It contained simple graphics and easy to understand analogies. Interestingly enough, simplicity is one of the topics in this chapter that breaks down visualization.
There’s a difference between drawing and visualization. Drawing is the ability to translate scenes onto papers, like a still life or a bowl of fruit. Visualization, however, is the ability to put ideas onto paper – taking massive and/or complicated data and breaking it down to a concept that is recognized instantly. Ideas are concepts, theories, equations, opinions and processes.
The term “Visual Practitioners” struck a chord in me. In the years that I’ve done graphic design I’ve always felt that communication with the customer was important in order to “divine their message.” This is part of the progress via visualization, to think, show and share. An effective visualization may be impossible to describe but must be instantly recognizable. An image can set the tone of a visualization, when viewed the observer forms an instant idea based on their experiences. A good visualization enables and fosters connections and helps us communicate. A large amount of data presented to an audience will most likely not gain their attention, but a stunning visual can sell the idea. To this end a visual must be compelling - not only is it visually appealing but it has a message in it.
Visuals have been around from the early years of man starting with cave drawings. Humans communicate with visuals – body language, symbols to represent sounds. Certainly today we are a visual society, using emoticons and avatars and breaking information down to its simplest form to view on various media devices – smart phones, iPads, PowerPoint presentations, websites. Visuals connect, compel, and communicate.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Unit 2 Reading Summary
Response to The Form of Facts and Figures thesis by Christian Behrens
Design Patterns for Interactive Information Visualization
Birth of Data Visualization Graphics
The reading began with the introduction of William Playfair, who was a pioneer of information design and data visualization. Playfair - like other pioneers of his time (Charles Minard, Harry Beck, Edward Tufte) - weren't artist but problem-solvers whose goals were to communicate complicated information to the general public.
The reading began with the introduction of William Playfair, who was a pioneer of information design and data visualization. Playfair - like other pioneers of his time (Charles Minard, Harry Beck, Edward Tufte) - weren't artist but problem-solvers whose goals were to communicate complicated information to the general public.
Introducing: Data-Ink Ratio
Edward Tufte introduced the concept of data-ink ratio. Data-ink ratio was used by Harry Beck when he created the London Underground tube map. Beck, an engineer, created electrical maps and used the philosophy, "reduce to the essential."
Edward Tufte introduced the concept of data-ink ratio. Data-ink ratio was used by Harry Beck when he created the London Underground tube map. Beck, an engineer, created electrical maps and used the philosophy, "reduce to the essential."
Design for All: Isotype Pictographs
Otto Neurath, an Austrian sociologist created Isotype pictograms. Neurath created a thematic map displaying the political situation in the U.S. in 1943. He used icons and color to simulate the number of senators in the United States. He wondered if images and graphic symbols could shape an international, intercultural graphic language that is understood regardless of origin or social class. Isotype, Neurath’s modular system of pictograms he developed together with his colleague and graphic artist Gert Arntz, became his greatest legacy and still represents the blueprint for pictogram systems all over the world. Otto provided the foundations for modern information design: the purpose to educate and to enlighten, to spread information among an audience as big as possible, to make information available, to make it accessible, to make information public.
Otto Neurath, an Austrian sociologist created Isotype pictograms. Neurath created a thematic map displaying the political situation in the U.S. in 1943. He used icons and color to simulate the number of senators in the United States. He wondered if images and graphic symbols could shape an international, intercultural graphic language that is understood regardless of origin or social class. Isotype, Neurath’s modular system of pictograms he developed together with his colleague and graphic artist Gert Arntz, became his greatest legacy and still represents the blueprint for pictogram systems all over the world. Otto provided the foundations for modern information design: the purpose to educate and to enlighten, to spread information among an audience as big as possible, to make information available, to make it accessible, to make information public.
Design Patterns
Design patterns was originally "coined" by Christopher Alexander, an architect and critic who envisioned a generic and modular “language.” In his book, “A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction”, he provides 250 patterns that are self-contained brief descriptions of design problems and a possible solution that has been proven in the past. The graphic illustration and examples taken from practice becomes a collection termed "Pattern Language." All patterns are connected through hierarchical relationships, creating a higher order structure similar to single worlds of a language. Alexander created his theory for architectural reasons that tanked in the 1980s, but the theory has had a resurgence with the current use of web technology. Its a huge success with object-oriented programming languages such as Java, software development and engineering, and UI design. Martijn van Welie used the theory to create a collection for interaction design pattern library. I think its also evident in UX design, when surveys are done on topics such as the "Z" eye pattern.
Design patterns was originally "coined" by Christopher Alexander, an architect and critic who envisioned a generic and modular “language.” In his book, “A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction”, he provides 250 patterns that are self-contained brief descriptions of design problems and a possible solution that has been proven in the past. The graphic illustration and examples taken from practice becomes a collection termed "Pattern Language." All patterns are connected through hierarchical relationships, creating a higher order structure similar to single worlds of a language. Alexander created his theory for architectural reasons that tanked in the 1980s, but the theory has had a resurgence with the current use of web technology. Its a huge success with object-oriented programming languages such as Java, software development and engineering, and UI design. Martijn van Welie used the theory to create a collection for interaction design pattern library. I think its also evident in UX design, when surveys are done on topics such as the "Z" eye pattern.
Conclusion
Design patterns do not take charge of the look and feel of an application, or of the implementation of a specific corporate design. This is the job of a styleguide which is applied after the functional structure of the application has been determined.
Design patterns do not take charge of the look and feel of an application, or of the implementation of a specific corporate design. This is the job of a styleguide which is applied after the functional structure of the application has been determined.
Implementation
I found the reading helpful for our current project. It helped me to visualize how to present my information; for example, I had originally visualized having two maps to show the frog population - one map for the past and another map for the present population. Instead I'll use one map similar to Otto Neurath's U.S. political map - a frog icon to represent the frog populations and two colors, one for past populations and another color for current populations (see the last page of P1 sketches).
I found the reading helpful for our current project. It helped me to visualize how to present my information; for example, I had originally visualized having two maps to show the frog population - one map for the past and another map for the present population. Instead I'll use one map similar to Otto Neurath's U.S. political map - a frog icon to represent the frog populations and two colors, one for past populations and another color for current populations (see the last page of P1 sketches).
Unit 2 Reading Hotlinks
Design Pattern Libraries:
UI Patterns
Meaningful Transitions
Links related to Week 2 Reading:
50 examples of data visualization and infographics
Blog referring to Picasso and the data-ink ratio
UI Patterns
Meaningful Transitions
Links related to Week 2 Reading:
50 examples of data visualization and infographics
Blog referring to Picasso and the data-ink ratio
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Unit 1 Hotlinks
What is Beauty: Novel, Informative, Efficient and Aesthetic
Onextrapixel reiterates both the reading and the lecture from week 1. It includes:
Onextrapixel reiterates both the reading and the lecture from week 1. It includes:
- A History of Infographics
- Brief Description of Infographics
- Designing an Effective Infographic
- Great Examples of Infographics for Inspiration
- Data Visualization Tools
- Additional Resources
Learning from the Classics
Chapter 1 has a paragraph that mentions two very well-known beautiful visualizations: Mendeleev's periodic table of the element and Harry Beck's map of the London Underground (tube map). Webdesigner Depot has two links that relate to these examples: Periodic Table of Typefaces and Infographic Maps.
P1 Competitive Analysis
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Gray Wolves as an Endangered Species
- General Status of Species in Canada
- USGS Oregon Spotted Frog range map
- Oregon Fish & Wildlife Office Columbia Spotted Frog survey
- Planetpals.com endangered species graph
- Tropical Rainforest Biome
- Island Fox recovery graph
- Reconciliation Ecology Gray Wolf
- The Economist: Conservation
- Physorg.com Endangered Sharks
- High Country News endangered species
- British Columbia Frogwatch Program
P1 Information Sources
- http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/amphibians/Oregon_spotted_frog/index.html
- http://woodlandparkzblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/frogs-leap-to-recovery-in-washington.html
- http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/nov1709b/
- http://www.savethefrogs.com/amphibians/rana-pretiosa.html
- http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/Animals/Archives/2010/Most-Threatened-Frogs-US.aspx
- http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/nov1709b/
- http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=D02A
- http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0426-hance_savethefrogs.html
- http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/amphibians/Oregon_spotted_frog/index.html
- http://www.earthsendangered.com/list.asp#O
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/news/iucn-red-list-natures-early-warning-system
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/19179/0
- http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?query_src=aw_lists_soundInclude_&where-genus=Rana&where-species=pretiosa
P1 Project Statement
COMPANY
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife’s (WDFW) mission is to preserve, protect and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities. Its vision is conservation of Washington’s fish and wildlife resources and ecosystems. WDFW defines “conservation” as: protection, preservation, management, or restoration of natural environments and the ecological communities that inhabit them; including management of human use for public benefit and sustainable social and economic needs.
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| (photo source: Oregon Zoo) |
PROBLEM
As the state’s human population continues to grow, more fish and wildlife species have been put at risk by loss and fragmentation of critical habitat, disturbance and introduction of non-native species. The Oregon Spotted frog is a dying breed that once thrived in warm marsh waters from California to British Columbia, but has fallen prey to non-native bullfrogs, waterbirds, disease and development. Only one historically known population and two recently discovered populations are known to remain in Washington. An additional 20 extant populations are known in Oregon and one in British Columbia. Based on an assessment of presence at historical localities, the species is estimated to have been lost from 78% of its former range. However, considering the broad former range suggested by the historic data, it is likely the species has actually been lost from over 90% of its former range. Due to the limited number of extant populations and the inadequacy of existing protection for these populations, it is recommended that the Oregon spotted frog be listed as a State Endangered species.
OPPORTUNITY
To educate and involve the public in the conservation efforts for the Oregon Spotted frogs. Restoring native wetland species and protecting habitat over broad areas are examples of an ecosystem approach that WDFW and its partners are taking to help restore the state’s biodiversity.
SOLUTION
To promote conservation, engage the public and reach a broader audience with an interactive media presentation that outlines the need for conservation of Oregon Spotted frogs. The presentation can be accessed online; presented to WDFW’s potential partners; used by its partners; and, offered to schools for educational presentations.
The League of Moveable Type
"As designers on the web, we have a calling to raise the standards of the web-design world. We're not the only ones who value good design and it's time for the web world to catch up with it."
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Physical Infographics Process
Ideas for Project 1
- Oregon Spotted Frogs – why are they endangered and why does it matter?
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/amphibians/Oregon_spotted_frog/index.html
http://woodlandparkzblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/frogs-leap-to-recovery-in-washington.html
http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/nov1709b/
http://www.savethefrogs.com/amphibians/rana-pretiosa.html - High School Dropout Rate for Puyallup school district
http://www.indicatorsnorthwest.org/DrawRegion.aspx?Action=DrawRankings&RegionID=1&IndicatorID=22
http://www.indicatorsnorthwest.org/DrawRegion.aspx?RegionID=53053&IndicatorID=22 - King Tut’s tomb
- Timeline of Crazy Horse Memorial
http://crazyhorsememorial.org/
http://rushmore.wingfoot.org/1980.html
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