Exercises

Jennifer Tan Qing Ni (0333137)
Information Design
Exercise

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Lectures
Lecture 1
Week 1 

INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION DESIGN
We were first introduced to the MIB and what we would expect in the next 7 weeks. Then Miss Anis gave us a lecture to introduce us to Information Design and what is the whole concept.

Right now, we are living in a modern world where visual images are used everywhere. From commercials, billboards to textbooks and shop signs. Rather than just plain text information, our brains are effiecient at transferring visual images and in fact, 40% of the information transferred are visual images. 90% of the information are also transferred via images. Since ancient times, visual images were used to communicate or to leave a mark. Although no words were used, We could understand the whole idea of what the person wants to transfer to its readers.

There is also a timeline on how much visual images have been used over the years.

 

The ultimate goal of visual communication is to transfer information without the need of complex explanations. Pictures came before words even did. In kanji or Chinese characters, words were made to look like how it is in its visual form. Overtime, people only then developed characters from the images that they've always used to communicate with.

Visuals were very important. Infographics can be used in many aspects. Dr John Snow used infographics to show the number of cholera deaths and their location in London.

The London Tube map also uses infographics. Henry Beck redesigned the tube map by using only vertical, horizontal, and lines at 45 degree angles, so it clearly transfers the message in a clean way, allowing users to navigate themselves better.

All in all, infographics are literally part of our daily lives. Its everywhere and it really helps us daily.

Lecture 2
Week 1
Manuel Lima's 9 Directive Manifestos.
This week after the lectures on Monday, we were told to conduct a lecture, to learn about Manuel's 9 Directive Manifestos.




Lecture 3
Week 2
Saul Wurman's L.A.T.C.H

For this week, we then had to give a presentation of Saul Wurman's L.A.T.C.H.


Lecture 4
Week 2
Chunking
On the same week, we then had to give a presentation about the concept of chunking.





Exercises.
Exercise 1
Quantifiable Charts
Week 1
For our first exercise, we have an individual assignment regarding Quantifiable Charts. Ms Anis first distributed buttons to us and each of us had a different colour. We then had to differentiate them into different categories according to our own preference. After that, we had to choose 4 others including our own buttons statistics and produce a quantifiable chart.

These were my buttons

and this was the data

At first I wanted to focus on texture but I thought that texture was a little difficult so I just went on with size, colour, and the number of holes.

Below are my friends data.
BUTTONS DATA

The process
Personally, I feel data is something that is kind off boring to look at because its all about numbers and it will be hard to catch the audiences attention. So I wanted to incorporate what I personally like and what the younger generation would like, which is neon lights.

Figure 1.1 neon Inso

So from there, I just tried and experiment with neon effects in photoshop. I had a dilemma in choosing what composition I wanted it to be.

Figure 1.2 Horizontal attempt

Figure 1.3 Vertical Attempt

I found that it was easier to interpret the information in a vertical way, so in the end, I just went with the vertical attempt.

Figure 1.4 Process 1

Figure 1.5 Process 2

Figure 1.6 Final Outcome

Exercise 2

Categorising Pokémons 
Week 3
After completing another flip topic, which is The Latch method of organising, we were given our second exercise. This exercises requires us to use the latch method to organise the pokemons according to the latch categories.

I first did some research on the Pokémon that I wanted to use. Below are the categories of the type of pokemon that I'll be using.

Water-Squirtle
Flame- Charmander
Electric- Pikachu
Grass- Bulbasaur

Figure 2.1 some research done

Below is how I will categorise each pokemon.

• Location: will be shown on the map
• Alphabet: shown according to the name of the pokemon
• Time: the generation
• Category: the category in which the pokemons are in 
• Hierarchy: how powerful

Process

Figure 2.2  First drew out the map using pen tool in Illustrator

Figure 2.3 Then I added some waves around it symbolise it as an ocean

Figure 2.4 I then 2 other small islands to make it not too plain. I also added a little boat. :)

Figure 2.5 I then added some small elements that symbolise the categories of the pokemons

Figure 2.6 I then created some speech bubbles in which the Pokémon will pop up

Figure 2.7  Adding the pokemon characters

Animating

Figure 2.8 Animating in After Efects

Figure 2.9 Added some fog at the beginning.

Final Outcome

In-class exercises
Week 1
We were briefly introduced to after effects when we were in our first semester, so in order to refresh our memory, we were asked to do this little exercise, in which we kind of introduce a certain topic.

I then decided to introduce a show I was recently obsessed with which is Riverdale.

I gathered some of the main characters designs and the way I edited was inspired by the show itself. I also downloaded a Varsity font.

Figure 2.1 Riverdale cast

Figure 2.2 Characters

Figure 2.3 Inspo for the intro 

Figure 2.4 Jughead Jones

Figure 2.5 Veronica

Figure 2.6 Archie

Figure 2.6 Veronica #2

Below is my video.

Exercise 2
Week 2
This week, we learnt how to control the number and graphs in after effects. (Basically, when the numbers grow, the bar will grow together with the number).
I decided to do a graph about the weather change between March and August in Tokyo (2018).
I had quite the struggle understanding this assignment as it was a little hard for me. But with the help of lecturers and my friends, I managed to do it.

Before doing the actual graph, I did some research on the weather in Tokyo last year.

Figure 3.1 March 2018 weather in Tokyo  

Figure 3.2 August 2018 weather in Tokyo 

Figure 3.3 the process

Below is my outcome.