Final Project (Women Who Injure Theirselves)

I finally choose a topic that I am hundred percent sure with it. It is about women who self injure theirselves. I have done most of my sketches from last class. Now I am trying to figure a way of arranging my information with the pictures for my work. I am still researching but, it is more on a specific subject on women who self injure theirselves. I want to show more where women are more likely to self injure their body and what percent. Below is what I have right now. It is still in progress. I added caption on what I might want to do.

Art 468 Final Project

The topic that I choose is Why Do Women cut theirselves. I want to focus more on age group. When are these women more likely to cut theirselves. For the longest I had trouble deciding on a topic for the final project. I have done a few sketches but, I am not sure yet how to arrange the information. I am still doing research on my topic. I hope it will come out well.

Project. 4 Final Critic

I think everyone did well on their Wordless Diagram. I was surprise at myself on how well I did on mine. When I saw my Wordless Diagram before I had to present my final critic, it did not seem to me like I did because, the style of drawing is not what I usual do. I am not sure if I can remember who did the best Wordless Diagram in the class. From the last critic, I think everyone up on their designs. My Wordless Diagram was "How To Do A Cartwheel?" From the last critic I made many changes to my Wordless Diagram. I made it better by emphasising on the body also I added hands and feet to my person. I got rid of the gymnastic outfitt on my person from the last critic. I put some form of reference to a ground on my diagram so my person who is doing a cartwheel is not floating in the design. It was also helpful that I asked my classmates how I can make my Wordless Diagram better for my final critic. I want to thank them for their help "Thank You."

Here is my Wordless Diagram below with captions

Project 4 Final Compt

Today in class we had our final Compt critic on our Wordless Diagram. Here is my Final Compt below. It show a person doing a Cartwheel. But there is a lot of improvement that my Final Compt need for my Final Critic.

When I was having my critic, my classmate said that I had way too many steps for my Wordless Diagram. Also, they thought the outfitt that my person had was a distraction from the steps that I am trying to present in this design. One of my classmate suggested that I put hands and feet on the person so, they can tell where the relationship to the body and movement of hands and feet relate. Many of my classmate strongly suggested that I put some form of floor or ground on my design because, the person looks like she is floating and not doin a cartwheel. Below shows some of the editing that I have done with the help of my classmates.

One of my classmate suggested to me after our critic to remove the buttom bump of the person since, it looks like she is crossing her legs. The buttom confused her for crossing legs instead of a buttom. I have a lot of changes to do before my Final Critic. :(

GAUGE Speaker Event with Ismael Obregon

The work at the GAUGE event by Ismael Obregon was presented more in a broadcasting way, for a moment I thought I was going to see a bunch of work that he has done. Instead it was an advertisement that he made for NFL. I sorted of liked the way the he presented his work, but it was confusing. I understand that Obregon’s work is supposed to explain it’s self, I felt that it went to fast for me to catch enough information. This event was related to my field because, I learned a lot about my major, graphic design. The topics that were covered at this event were how important is language and communicating with your clients in design, and some advice on how to start a company. These topics that Obregon covered during his presentation made me realize that I still have so much to learn in this field.
The GAUGE event with Ismael Obregon was very informative. In the beginning when he first started to introduce himself, I thought it was going to be a Middle Eastern person because, of the name Ismael. Obregon was not Middle Eastern, he was another ethnicity. However, it is nice to know and see diversity of ethnicity in the graphic design world as a minority. I understand that Obregon wanted his work to show language and how we use it to communicate to others. Unfortunately, I did not pick up on many of the visual communications that he was trying to present, it went a little too fast for me. The presentation was confusing for me in the beginning but, when we were able to ask questions to Obregon, he answered them and everything else was ok. This was a very informative event.
Surprisingly, I did learn something at this event. I learn that visual is just as important in language as written and spoken. I also, learn that having good communication with your client is important because, they are relaying on your skills to help with your clients business. Even though, it was a little confusing in the beginning, Obregon gave good advice on how to start a business in the graphic design, what you need to know so you can be chosen for an internship, and doing internships is very important. I would strongly recommend this event of Ismael Obregon to my peers and my friends who are not art majors. The speaker was fun, very informative, and lively. I was very interested to hear what Ismael Obregon had to say about him being in the graphic design field.

How To Sketches...1

In the beginning before I made an actual decision on what I wanted to do with my visual diagrams, I just thought about what I am good at. I decided to do a diagram of “How to Do a Cartwheel.” When I started to do my sketches, I did a cartwheel a few times to figure out the steps. When I did my sketches I noticed that I had problems interpreting every step. Well, in class I was stuck on how to make my sketches better. So, I asked around in class on how I can make my work better. Each of my peers gave me good advice on how I can make my sketches better when I re-edit my work. I want to thank all my peers for their input and I hope I made my upgraded sketches better.

Final Concept Map

Looking at people's amp they were pretty good. The map I remember liking most were Pauleen's and Ceng. Sorry if I spelled your names wrongs. They did a good job redoing their maps and making them more easy to read and follow. With their maps, hopefully I won't get lost. Some people had ok maps, but I can not remember who they were.

Reading Response #6 “Narratives of Space and Time”

I learn that placement of spacing in design can make the work very functional the clients. I have not notice until I finished reading this chapter “Narratives of Space and Time” from Envisioning Information by Tufte, how important spacing is. I like how in the reading there is an example of New York to New Haven train schedule and it shows and tells you what is wrong with the schedule. From this example, I learn that sometimes changing the whole layout of the design, you can give the work an appearance of more space. I also, learn that graphical schedule can be very helpful to narrate space and time of when a train is coming, or Japanese Beetle cycle of life and time, or also timing about people’s health. I only thought about graphing when it comes to scientific data not using it as a schedule. I learn a lot on how I can design nicer schedules and how to narrate space and time in better ways.
I never thought about Galileo as any form of a designer or creator. I always thought of Galileo as the original astronomer, not a designer. This chapter “Narratives of Space and Time” open my eyes about Galileo and other scientists tribute to information design. Spacing can make the design easy to receive information if it is done well. However, if the spacing is off or makes the design a little bothersome to viewers to quickly get information that is needed. I still do not understand how space and time is narrating in the design of train schedules and William Playfair’s graph of how much weapons the British bought. I love the schedule of “A day’s visit to Chicago after flying from Atlanta” created by Playfair because, I can understand the schedule and see what it is narrating of space and time. I do not I have figure out what it is, I know just by seeing it.
Surprising, I was into this week’s reading “Narratives of Space and Time.” When I started reading this chapter, it mostly talked about Galileo and his observation at Jupiter and its stars. I did not understand why Tufte was spending a lot of time talking about Galileo until, he explained his diagram and notes on Jupiter. His work on Jupiter, I think is the best example of narratives of space and time since, it is really simple and easy to understand. I like how the chapter tries to show different examples of arrangements of space and its relationship to time. Unfortunately, there were also many examples in the reading and I did not understand how they were related to space and time, and what it is narrating.

Reading Response #5 (Small Multiples)

After reading this chapter “Small Multiples” from Envisioning Information by Tufte, putting both words and pictures together is not as easy as we upcoming designer thinks. We have to plan the layouts to make sure the design is ok. I strongly felt that I did not fully understand this week reading. The examples from the reading, helped me a little more with the understanding of the chapter but, I do not think I understood everything that reading was trying to explain. The best examples from the reading that helped me understand what this chapter is about are “An Historical & Cultural Atlas of China” the maps and “Mural with Blue Brushstroke” by Lichtenstein.

In the beginning and towards the ending of the reading, I was very confused. In the reading of “Small Multiples” from Envisioning Information, I did not understand what it was trying to explain. I had to read this chapter many times so I can try to understand a little bit of the reading. Most of the examples from the reading shows me how arrangements can be important for the design of information. This made me realize that placements are much more important than choices of colors. I think knowing how to arrange different design elements, everything else will fall into place with the work.

I learn that that arrangement and layouts are very important when it comes to putting several information together. Many designers assume that when their clients give them a lot of information to work with, it will be easy to come up with a strong and clear ideas. Many times it is the opposite, from my understanding of the reading. Also, I learned that depending on how you place the design elements the client or audience may not understand the information that is being showed.

Reading Response #4 (Layering and Separation)

In the beginning, I disagree with the author Tufte of Envisioning Information that clutter can cause failure to my design. However, when it comes to creating work that is informing people, clutter can make the viewers feel overwhelm and upset. Being able to find the information that you want and need on an informational design, it is very important to not have any details that can distract people from the main information. There have been times when I am reading a map or graph and it is frustrating for me to not find the information that I want. I like how the book shows you what is wrong with each example and explain how they make that example look better and why. The information in this chapter “Layering and Separation” it is very informative and can help me with other works that I might need to due in the future.

For me, I have a hard time to know when my own designs are clutter or not. In my mind, more is better, not a failure of design. However, when it comes to information designing, Tufte is correct to say “Clutter are failures of design, not attributes of information” pg. 53 from Envisioning Information. I do not want to work in this field of information design since, I feel it is difficult for me to understand and I would be unable to show what the clients want. I did not understand the concept in the reading of 1+1=3 theory. From my understanding, it is an unsuccessful concept because, it goes against the theory less is more. Also, 1+1=3 theory makes the work compete against it’s self. Even though, I have learned a lot about information design in this chapter “Layering and Separation,” I can use this theory for other forms of design.

I learn that there are many ways that I make my information design look to cluttery or junky. Many times, I feel that I need to add lines or other markings because, I feel that my work is too empty. I already know that less is more but, when I start doing my sketches I do not know how to make the design with less details. Also, I learned from the reading by Tufte, if I must use lines as back a background make them less prominent and more faded. It is important to know that if the information is not important, either make it less prominent or get rid-off it. I need help in this area when I do my work. If the work seems as if it is competing against itself, it is not a good design from my understanding.

Reading Response# 3 (Micro/Macro Reading)

In the beginning, I had trouble understanding the chapter “Micro/Macro Reading” from Envisioning Information. I was starting to get the concept of what is Micro/Macro design towards the end of the chapter. I felt that I learned a little bit from the reading. However, this chapter starts to really talk about the title of the chapter towards the end instead of through out the reading. I was actually disappointed with the examples of “Micro/Macro Readings” because, they help me to figure out what is going on with the reading. I learn better with pictures, not with words. I was actually frustrated after I was done reading this chapter.
I learn that our eyes can see millions and millions of colors at the same time. I never noticed that our eyes are able to pick up a good amount of visual information at once. Using dots as a representation of many smaller images that does not need to be drawn in details is a major time saver. As upcoming designers, it is important for us to work fast and find great ways to short hand without destroying the design. Unfortunately, I felt that I did not fully understand the Micro/Macro technique when it comes to designing. I really wanted to understand this concept but, I did not.
I wish Tufte, the author of Envisioning Information, would explain a little bit more about Micro/Macro in more details. I feel as if I did not get enough information on this topic. I am still not sure how I can use technique of Micro/Macro design for my own work. I understand that it is good when making maps to have a lot of details, but I did not understand how it is related to statistical analysis? The author just explains about briefly. I do not think he even should put it in his book since, I can not figure out how it is related to the Micro/Macro design. I also, had to re-read this chapter a few times to try to understand certain details.

Reading Response#2 (Escaping Flatland)

I was having trouble reading this chapter “Escaping Flatland” from the book Envisioning Information by Tufte. I love many of the examples explained in this chapter but, I felt it was to brief, and that the author was jumping around with his explanations. I like the example of the periodic table of chemical elements that uses the shape of the triangle which divides the elements into Noble Gases and other metals. Looking at some of the examples of good information design, I can not tell many times when certain elements are used as chart junk. I still have a lot to learn about information design and how to use it in a creative form.

From reading “Escaping Flat” from Envisioning Information by Tufte, I have learned that it is important to know how to use perspective to make information design more desirable to your clients. Many of the mediums that information designers use on two dimensional surfaces are paper, magazines, and mostly on computer screens. Technology from the 1600’s until now has helped people to make a diagram from a three dimensional view to a flat piece of paper, which is easier to make. However, there are still problems for viewers to understand what information a diagram is trying to show and its accuracy.

The reading was very confusing for me. It seems like it starts out with one topic and then moves on to another subject without some form of transitions. This confused me a lot when, I would try to understand a certain subject in this chapter of “Escaping Flatland.” I see how simple technology like a telescope in the 1600’s from Galileo helped him to make a simple diagram of the sun and its changes. Computers have made it easier for us to design good diagrams but, we still have the same problem on communicating the information to the audience as we did in the past.

This is a brochure that has a nice schedule

The schedule for it is on the top.

I like it because It's easy for me to know what's going on

This is our Cal State LA Library Schedule that I am using for project#2. I have been having a little trouble figuring out how to make it better. But I think I have a few ideas.

This is a schedule that I found online. I think it is an ok schedule. It is readable and it gets to the point.

Reading Response#1 To Envisioning Information

Many times, when artists do information design in my opinion, they have trouble putting art and words together to show the information that the audience needs to know. I too have trouble doing this. Sometimes, it is hard to express the information in visuals because, doing good visual design is only limited to your knowledge and imagination. Also, the use of the colors can make information design great to look at or disastrous. Colors are important if they are put together correctly. I have already learned that putting all soft or all bright colors together will not be as effective for making good information design restated from Envisioning Information by Tufte. Many of the information from the reading seems both useful and helpful about how to use colors for visual information and design to work as one.

I have learned a lot about colors such as we can see millions of color at the same and know the difference. Also, depending on what colors the designers’ use in their work it can affect people’s reaction, either in a negative or positive way. From the readings of Envisioning Information I realize I do not know how to arrange colors properly to make my design effective. I never thought about the placement of colors can be used as symbols for information, until the readings. I think I need to explore more with the usage of colors, symbols, and text to get better with my design. However, the basic concepts of using colors with value, saturation, and harmony are still important when it comes to the use of colors.

I like many of the examples that our text book shows and its explanation about each visual examples of different ways of showing data, color, text, and sometimes symbols put together. I also like how the book tells you why certain visual information works and/ or doesn’t work. I learn that you can use colors as symbols to represent certain data as well as it can be a design. Also, it very important to know how to arrange colors like complementary, hues, shades, and etc to make the colors effective on what you think is important to the audience. However, I disagree with Tuft, the author the author of my textbook Envisioning Information that his example of the Swiss Map is good design of colors, text, and grid. To me, the Swiss Map is hard for me to follow because, the colors are too muted and the text does not blend well with the faded background. It is very hard for me to see the difference of the different regions of the Swiss Map.