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.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
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.
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.
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