Project 4 - Band Info-Graphics

Infogarphics Analysis

1. The design is fairly difficult to understand at first glance. There is a lot of text and you have to really read it twice before you begin to understand it. Some of the imagery doesn't really stand out as it is engulfed in clumps of information. However the topic is a large one to discuss so a lot of information is needed, making it hard to design an eye catching piece.

2. The information gained was not very memorable however we still learnt a fair bit from the poster. Being able to learn dips and rises in the different trades was clear and it was easy to absorb information on what part of the country is most popular in certain trades from the diagrams at the bottom. It was designed with business people in mind so there are a lot of statistics but they are laid out in quite a simplistic way making it easier to take it all in. I think we gained more from the bottom half of the poster. The graphics made it more interesting for us and we found ourselves looking at it a lot more than the top half.

3. The design engages its user with its simplistic design and informative colour scheme. The target user here I think is business people. Its purposely designed to show the user key statistics and facts in the simplest way possible. Since there is a lot to take in, the design aims to show it in such a manner so it can be understood quite quickly. I feel it didn't do this very effectively as I found myself reading it over twice but from a business persons point of view it may read quite well. 

4. The design is formatted portrait and centered. Its spaced quite evenly so the users eye follows the information clearly making it better to follow the text down the page. The middle of the poster may be a bit busy and difficult to follow but it picks up as you go down towards the diagrams. The hierarchy works well. Not perfect though. The main headline is clear and dominant however when you go down the page and come to 'Regional High Street Hot Spots'  its in the same size and format as the heading. I feel like it should be in more of a sub heading format.

5. The font used appears professional and informative. The kerning and spacing make it clear and understandable for a business person to read. The hierarchy in the text is quite weak. There are very few distinctive sizes which can make things just merge together. On the other hand the text is divided into the appropriate importance and is still easy to follow, just not done all that well.

6. The imagery is used well. It doesn't stand out enough but it communicates meaning nicely. The imagery is symbolic and its forms are quite geometric. The choice of the buildings graphic is nice cause it clearly explains shops and the idea of a high street. On the bottom half of the poster the instructional graphics do their job well. Each map could go without a heading and I would still understand what it was about because of the choice of graphic. Its used well because its simple and the user can follow it easily.

7. Colour doesn't have much impact on this poster but still has some importance. The choice of blue is good as it is fairly professional and links well with the idea of business. In the statistics graph at the top the colour works well in coding everything together. However with the map diagrams things seem a bit random and the colours do not reflect their field. For example, for the coffee shops I would have thought brown would be appropriate but it is coloured green so things do start to lose their meaning as you go down the poster.

8. The colours used for the graphics are the same colours used on the text and they come together to divide up each field discussed. This creates meaning and purpose in each section. The link between the content and the visuals is fairly clear. The most obvious of examples being the arrows pointing up or down to show the increase or decrease in the data.

9. The style of the design works well when it comes to understanding everything shown. Its an informative style of design that has been applied making it easy for the user to follow and especially appropriate for business people, where it is crucial  for data to be taken in in its simplest form. The public information symbols are an example of this style, making it clear to the user what is being discussed.

10. For the design process the designer would first start gathering the necessary data in relation to the assigned topic. A lot of public analysis would of had to be done when it came to the second half of the poster. He/she would then had to identify what design style would be best to show all this information in a simple and easy to follow way. Much thought and research into other informative styled designs would have to have been done. A target audience would also have to be established and the design catered around them, in this case business people. They then chose an approach that could show off the data in a creative way but still make it possible for the business type people to see past that and understand the information given clearly.

How did I get here?

Blog Post 4 - That font sure is saucy

Exercise 4 Modular Grids

Blog Post 3 - Getting Around

For this exercise I will use the basic Scot Rail train ticket. 

Font Choice

The font used in the ticket design appears to be something like Helvetica or Arial. To the best of my knowledge this font has been in affect for quite a while and has not changed. I believe its used to display information clearly so it can be read by both passengers and ticket inspectors.
Hierarchy
There is very little use of hierarchy in the layout of the ticket. Some is seen when naming the ticket type, eg. '2-PART RETURN'. However, that to me isn't even the most important information. It all seems very similar in terms of weight and volume. All the information is thrown about and its makes it hard for the eye to move around the ticket.
Usability
In simple terms the ticket does what it has to do. Gives the passenger and ticket inspector all the information needed. However the ticket does everything it has to do badly...There is no organisation or hierarchy making it hard to identify key bits of information and it just looks dull and boring. Although its just meant to show some info, why cant it look a bit more interesting? Something better to look at when its 8.30 in the morning. 


Redesign 

Here I've used Arial as I think its as similar as I can get to the font on the ticket. I arranged the information with some use of hierarchy based on what I think is the most important info. I placed the 'valid until' info in the same importance as the 'ticket type' I think that this is an important piece of information that the ticket inspector has to see clearly, and in my experience they always take a few seconds to find it as its just lost in a mess of text. I also changed the orange border just to give it a more interesting look and putting the 'Scot Rail' name in italics to show the appearance of speed. 

Reflections 2 - Ampersands

Not until reading chapter six of 'Just My Type' did I know that the ampersand was the union of the letters 'e' and 't'. Learning this brought me to choose the ampersand above as it discards its own purpose.

The ampersand is a bold serif. Its thick, short stem give the bowl a exaggerated heavy appearance, almost as if it is obese. The serifs are short yet flowing and the terminal has quite a rectangular shape to it. The type classification I would think it to be is Egyptian or Slab Serif.

The relationship between the 'e' and 't' in this ampersand is why I found it quite interesting. The character has been broken in half, they do not join, completely coming away from the actual purpose and meaning of the ampersand. This leaves you asking why is it broken in two? Why is it not following the rules? Is it just a simple link to the destructive earthquake that hit Haiti or perhaps its suggesting a shattered relationship between two things or people. It can even resemble the classic broken heart look.     

Exersise 3 - Alignment

Reflection 1: Appropriate Typeface

Here is my solution to the previous post. With the use of elegant and softer typefaces the feeling of fear and worry is broken. A more peaceful and safe, even inviting feeling is achieved. Its even more appropriate because the practice is not just a dental surgery but a COSMETIC dental surgery, highlighting the fact of beauty.   

Reflection 1: Inappropriate Typeface

Here is a sign for a cosmetic dentistry practice. Its distressed and almost psychotic appearance terrifies me, a feeling I do not want to experiences when about to go into surgery. I would like to feel calm and my mind to be at ease. This sign achieves the exact opposite.

   

Exercise 2: Lists

Exercise 1: Hierarchy

Project 1 Decontrution Poster

More examples of obscured text and busy designs from McSweeny's

Project 1: Deconstruction Poster

The Believer
Work from McSweeny's on the magazine 'The Believer'

The designs are always very busy and filled with ornaments.

Project 1: Deconstruction Poster

Work from McSweeney's
Some traditional earlier work from the designer I found quite interesting : 

Both simple and intricate design are seen.

Project 1: Deconstruction Poster
My assigned  piece of work and the official site of the design team,  McSweeney's :

 

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/