Information Design: Lectures

3/2/2024 - //2025 (Week 1 - Week )

Seh Zi Qi/ 0355872/ Bachelor of Design(Honours) in Creative Media

Module Name: Information Design

Lectures

LIST

Week 1
Week 2

Week 3
Week 4

Week 5
Week 6: Lesson Recap

Week 7: No Lecture

WEEK 1

[MIB - Information Design]

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Lecture Recap

For this week, we started by being briefed by Mr. Fauzi on the different exercises and projects that will occur this semester.

After that, we were briefed about Exercise 1 and the Flip Presentation for this semester. For the first tutorial and practical, we must find several items of varying sizes and colours to sort out while also writing down the data collection and making several designs.

WEEK 2

[W1 Lecture]

[W2 Lecture]

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Lecture Recap

Week 1 - Types of Infographic:

Infographic

Used to capture the audience's attention
A powerful way to communicate ideas in a visual way

List Infographics

Informational graphic that uses a written list
Uses a lot of visual graphics and elements that are eye-catching
Contextualising the information with visuals to make it easier to read

Fig 1.1, List Infographic

Statistical Infographics

A visual representation of data like

Pie charts
Bar graphs
Etc.

Represent data visually so it's easier to understand
Include the data with the visuals to reel the audience into reading the information provided

Fig 1.2, Statistical Infographic

How-to Infographics

Explains how to do something like problem-solving or performing a task
A good way to showcase step-by-step processes without bombarding the viewer
An easier way to process and absorb the information given

Fig 1.3, How-to Infographic

Timeline Infographics

Most diverse infographics in terms of their use
Not only useful and informative but also visually appealing
Be sure to use icons and illustrations with a full-length timeline for each point

Fig 1.4, Timeline Infographic

Comparison Infographics

A visual way to compare and contrast different options
Helps viewers understand the distinction between various concepts

Fig 1.5, Comparison Infographic

Map & Location Infographics

Used extensively by many companies & organisations
Usually used to communicate demographic data or other location-specific location

Fig 1.6, Map & Location Infographic

Flowchart Infographics

A graphical representation of an information stream like a sequence of different steps or action
Helps to boost engagement and gives users a clear idea of what the process is about
Tends to be more personal and resonate closely with the potential viewers

Fig 1.7, Flowchart Infographic

Process Description Infographics

A process description infographic visually describes a process's main elements, actions, and steps.
Uses the infographic to communicate technical information/ complex series of actions
Highlights the most important steps and simplifies complex ideas

Fig 1.8, Process Description Infographic

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Week 2 - Types of Infographic:

L.A.T.C.H Theory

To organising information meaningfully and effectively
We may doubt ourselves when we start organising or restructuring information for a new website

Fig 2.1, L.A.T.C.H Theory

01 - Location

Technique of organising information based on its location
Gives spatial order to the information

Fig 2.2, L.A.T.C.H - Location

02 - Alphabet

Organising the content in an alphabetical order

Fig 2.3, L.A.T.C.H - Alphabet

03 - Time

Uses the temporal nature, like time, to organise information
Very effective in social media websites, for users to know the most recent events

Fig 2.4, L.A.T.C.H - Time

04 - Category

Most frequently used technique of organising content on websites
Refers to any meaningful group

Fig 2.5, L.A.T.C.H - Category

05 - Hierarchy

To arrange information by any order like

Size
Cost (Low to High; High to Low)
Popularity
Etc.

Fig 2.6, L.A.T.C.H - Hierarchy

WEEK 3

[W3 Lecture]

[Miller's Law Explained]

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Lecture Recap

Miller's Law of Memory

Communication can be messy with interruptions and misunderstandings happen frequently when carrying the message across to other participants.
This law suggests that our short-term memory is limited

Fig 3.1, Miller's Law of Memory

"The Magical Number Seven Plus or Minus Two"

Most humans aren't able to hold more than roughly 7 items of information in short-term memory at once.
Using the quote, passing that threshold means that we tend to forget some of the information provided

Fig 3.2, Magical Number Seven Plus or Minus Two

Validating the Miller's Rule: The Paradox of Choice

Directly opens up the issue of certain limitations of humans
Brains processes a certain amount of information in any communication

Doesn't always grasp it at full extent

Fig 3.3, The Paradox of Choice

The Art of Refining Options

The theory is about having a hard time remembering anything more than 7 information at a time and that we'll likely forget about them in less than 30 seconds
Our brains can only process a certain amount of information, therefore we remember information in chunks
May remember information in intonations as it is easier to remember

Fig 3.4, The Art of Refining Options

WEEK 4

[W4 Lecture]

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Lecture Recap

Manuel Lima's 9 Direction Manifesto:

A working list that can help provide clarity with 9 directives on information visualisation differs from information art or infographic.

Fig 4.1, Manuel Lima's 9 Direction Manifesto

1 - Form follows Function:

"The purpose should always be centered on the explanation, which in turn leads to insight."
Always have your work driven by a question/ query

Fig 4.2, Form follows Function

2 - Interactivity is Key:

Allows for investigation and learning through discovery
Information is presented in 360 view where everyone can access the information from every angle

Easier for the audience to understand

Fig 4.3, Interactivity is Key

3 - Cite your sources:

Always disclose where your data originated
People should know where your sources came from and it also helps them to know where your thought process came from

Fig 4.4, Cite your sources

4 - The Power of Narrative:

Elaborate information into storytelling to make it more interesting and memorable

Fig 4.5, The Power of Narrative

5 - Do Not Glorify Aesthetics:

"Should always be a consequence and never a goal"
Design for the public and the people, they should know what we're trying to portray before designers do

Fig 4.6, Do Not Glorify Aesthetics

6 - Look for Relevancy:

Asks questions like "Why are you visualising information?"
The information we want to showcase should be effective to the audience

Fig 4.7, Look for Relevancy

7 - Embrace Time:

Time management is a key factor in organising and achieving better results for any decision-making
Practicing this management is a good way to help improve workflow and thinking

Fig 4.8, Embrace Time

8 - Aspire for Knowledge:

“A core ability of Information Visualization is to translate information into knowledge. It’s also to facilitate understanding and aid cognition.”
To translate information into knowledge
To facilitate knowledge and aid

Fig 4.9, Aspire for Knowledge

9 - Avoid Gratuitous Visualisations:

“Should respond as a cognitive filter, an empowered lens of insight, and should never add more noise to the flow”
Show what you need instead of what you want
Simplify and informative instead of unnecessary noise