Small multiples

Edward Tufte says that small multiples are the best design solutions and I agree with him fully. When we observed small multiples we can appreciate data better because it shows us a before and after a beginning and end. I enjoy observing small multiples information because it allows me to understand any information design
Faster. When there are small multiples the data is easier to follow and clear to observe. Although Small multiples are an excellent design idea, they can also get complicated because if the small multiple is not clear enough then the date becomes confusing. Whatever the message being send the background has to be faded enough to allow the message to be transmitted, I enjoy observing small multiples but also I know they are hard to create.

Information design poster i found

I found this information graphic design on the web, I see the designer is trying to make an information design but i think the color and composition is not clear enough. backgroung is colorful i dont know if its needed or even if the umbrellas on the roof are needed. The concept might be great but the design is still not clear enough, any comments?

Layering and Separation

Edward Tufte in envisioning information describes clutter as being a failure to design. Clutter in deed is a failure to design. When we drive or walk every day, we are bombarded with hundreds of advertisement and also informational signs. After we get home many of those ads are completely erased and mainly we remember ads that were clutter less and clear. In my opinion a designer is talented when he can show as much less clutter with an excellent typeface. Some designers have problems in choosing typefaces while others have problems with clutter. Clutter in information design is very important; it can reduce visibility and take away from the main purpose of the design. In fact to much clutter can become dangerous and life threatening let’s say if the design is an emergency exit route. Information design has to be clear and clutter less. As a designer it’s always important to remember the purpose of the design you are creating. When designing information design the same rule applies. Who will read this design what purpose will it served and how can I remove all the clutter that is not needed a.k.a Chartjunk.

By observing the examples Edward Tufte included in the book, we can observed the before and after of the design. The end result is clean, it emphasis important information its easy to read and the colors are not all competing with each other, this particular section was very clear and to the point. In some instances Tufte wonder off to other topics wich I think is junktext but eventually he comes back and shows awesome examples.

Nice example of Macro and Micro

Here is an example of a micro and macro readings. The macro is the overall states and its color the micro is how its divided into individual counties.

Macro and Micro.

While reading Envisioning Information by Edward Tufte specially the section of micro and macro readings I realize that information design really is complicated and twisted in its own way.  In one section they talked about information being clear and easy to read and understand. In this section we see maps with a lot of information and they look clutter in parts. I’m not saying the work is not great, but seeing a map like the one on page 39, to me it looks complicated it doesn’t encourage me to read it or even analyze it. So what makes macro and micro readings interesting and important? The amount of data they can hold in a large and small scale. Macro we can understand major is the overall data we need while in a micro state is that within the macro we can read a smaller clearer data. Analyzing this I realize that information design changes according to the field the design is being use. If it’s in a medical environment it will have a custom look while an archeologist would have a different type of style. While looking at some work on the web of macro and micro I realize that it takes probably hours and hours to accomplished a well define macro and micro design. Overall this section would have been more interresting if tufte had shown more maps.

Student Info Design Very interesting

Heres a link to a blog i found that has a very interesting info chart.
circadian rhythm
information graphics.
I like to color used and simplicity of the chart. Everything is layout and serves a purpose for the information.
My favorite is the jet lag one (name: My Head Hurts) the background color is blue and its purpose is to represent the ocean and the map seems just to be place but in fact it has the actual time zones. The font is very soft and modern.

http://mattkursmark.com/print-infographics.php

Flatland

Flatland

While reading Escaping Flatland in Envisioning Information by Edward Tufte. A lot of details and examples are given to inform reader on how to properly demonstrate graphics in a flat piece of paper. The section covers, maps charts and so on. The first couple of pages were very informational one piece that I enjoy was on page 16 were an actual triangle has been pasted. This triangle reminds me of children popup books, the pop-up’s usually are castles, tigers and so on. In a way we see those books childish and especially for children, but we never think that it’s an excellent idea to transmit a message across. Usually as designers we tend to worry a lot of the design but not really on the production itself. The production is not alone by itself; materials can also elaborate the design and help improve the message. That triangle is not only design but is also part of the production of this book. When the designer also puts attention to where he will place his design and what will hold it, then he has a better advantage over flatland that is a piece of paper. The rest of the readings for some reason Tufte gets into suns spots and devotes a lot on the sunspots. It went from design to astronomy all in one, what else can we ask for.

Blog #1

While reading Edward Tufte envisioning Information, I realized that information design is not only your typical bathroom sign icons or mall arrows pointing to the exit of the building. Rather, Information Design is a field that only a handful of graphic designers venture to explore. It's a world that is complex to understand and master. Achieving an effective Information Design involves simplifying the image just enough to convey the message. For example, as designers we tend to think that everything needs to be well designed; which is not a bad idea, but the problem comes afterwards. In the process of designing something good, instead of being a well design piece to transmit the message, we tend to decorate instead of designing. Reading Edward Tufte writing brings a lot of sense into what is information design. Now the book is not very appetizing as a design book but then again is an informational book. It covers a lot of ground for those interested in information design useful even for architects and map makers. Tufte includes a color section which provides very important information on how to choose colors. In information design Color is very important and the reason why it's important is because color tends to be everywhere. So as we design we use it to decorate but in information design, color needs to have a specific purpose. Color cannot be added to decorate; it has to have a purpose. For instance, in a map darker shades of blue mean ocean gets deeper lighter areas are less deep and so on. Tufte's points and rules on information design are clear, but they don't get to the idea he wants to transmit fast enough. He gives a lot of additional information instead of getting to the point but then again might be that we want everything fast now.

New to this!

Hello.
My first blog.