Information Design / Lectures

An infographic is a powerful way of communicating ideas in a visual form. Different types of infographics are used in design and marketing to present information in a simple and visually appealing way. They can be a useful alternative to standard text-based content.

Infographic types:

01. List infographics

A list infographic is an informational graphic that uses a written list to get a message across. It’s full of written copy, but it’s also highly visual.

Like other kinds of graphics, it’s eye-catching and typically includes a wide range of design elements.

Contextualizing information with visuals makes it easier to read and makes the statistics more memorable.

Fig 1.1 - List infographic

02. Statistical Infographics

A statistical infographic is an infographic that includes pie charts, bar graphs, and any other visual representations of data.

Using a statistical infographic to represent the information in a visual way is more easier to understand.

Include percentage radials alongside branded illustrations to grab the audience’s attention and reel them into reading the information.

Fig 1.2 - Statistical Infographic

03. How-to infographics

A how-to infographic explains how to do something, like how to solve a problem or perform a task.

It’s a fantastic alternative to long pieces of text that describe a step-by-process, like proper hand washing or workplace setup, without bombarding the viewer with information.

Compared to a paragraph or written list, the how-to infographic makes each step of the process easier to absorb.

Fig 1.3 - How-to infographic

04. Timeline infographics

The timeline infographic is not only useful and informative, but it’s also visually appealing.

Timeline infographics are one of the most diverse in terms of their use. When creating this type of infographic, be sure to use icons and illustrations along the full length of the timeline to represent each point.

Fig 1.4 - Timeline infographic

05. Comparison Infographics

The comparison infographic couldn’t be missing from this list of the best types of infographics.

A comparison infographic is a visual way to compare and contrast different options.

By presenting two or more alternatives side-by-side, this type of infographic helps readers understand the distinction between various concepts and, in many cases, choose which option is best for them.

Fig 1.5 - Comparison Infographic

06. Map or location infographics

An infographic that’s used extensively by many companies and organizations is the map or location infographic.

Map infographics can be used for a variety of purposes. People tend to use them when they want to communicate demographic data or other location-specific information.

Fig 1.6 - Map or location infographic

07. Flowchart infographics

A flowchart infographic is a graphical representation of an information stream, such as a sequence of different steps or actions.

This type of infographic boosts engagement while giving users a very clear idea of what the process is about.

Because it guides people individually through the various steps, it feels more personal and tends to resonate closely with potential audiences.

Fig 1.7 - Flowchart infographic

08. Process description infographics

A process description infographic visually describes the main elements, actions, and steps of a process.

A process description infographic to communicate technical information or a complex series of actions.

It’s useful because it highlights the most important steps, and simplifies complex ideas by breaking them down and then grouping them by category.

Fig 1.8 - Process description infographic

Lecture 2 : L.A.T.C.H Theory

Organizing information meaningfully and effectively, is still one of the biggest problems faced by a UX designer.

We might have worked on multiple projects, spanning different industries, yet even today when we start organizing or restructuring information for a new website, we inevitably think

“Is this really making sense?” Or

“Am I using the organization principles properly?”

Fig 2.1 - Statement from Richard Saul Wurman

L.A.T.C.H Theory

Fig 2.2 - The LATCH system

01. Location

This is the technique of organizing information based on its location. This gives a spatial order to the information.

02. Alphabet

Organizing the content Alphabetically is probably the easiest way to group information, mainly because alphabets are universally recognized.

However, we should ensure that the actual labels are also something which maps with model of the user.

03. Time

This scheme uses the temporal nature of content for organizing information.

This is very effective in Social media websites, where users would like to know about the most recent events in their contacts’ lives.

04. Category

This is by far the most frequently used technique of organizing content on websites.

Category refers to any meaningful group, with reference to the website or the audience.It is very important , however, to define categories which make sense to your users.

Tools such as Card Sorting can help in designing relevant categories.

05. Hierarchy

Hierarchy refers to arranging information by any order, such as, size, cost (Low to High OR High to Low), popularity etc.

Lecture 3 : Miller’s Law of Memory

Miller’s Law of Memory

Communication can be a messy endeavor, with interruptions happening frequently and misunderstanding affecting the way the message is carried across to other participants.

Miller's law suggests how our short-term memory is limited when it comes to remembering more than seven information "objects," and how retaining that information does not last longer than 30 seconds.

“The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two”

Fig 3.1 - The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two

Most human brains are incapable of holding more than roughly seven items in their short-term memory at once — or as Miller put it, “the magical number seven, plus or minus two.” Pass that threshold, and most humans tend to forget some of the items.

Validating Miller’s Rule: The Paradox of Choice

Fig 3.2 - The Paradox of choice

Miller's law directly opens up the issue of certain limitations when it comes to humans.

Our brain processes just a certain amount of information in any communication, but not always can we grasp it to a full extent.

The Art of Refining Options

Fig 3.3 - The Art of Refining Options

“Learning to choose is hard. Learning to choose well is harder. And learning to choose well in a world of unlimited possibilities is harder still, perhaps too hard.”

You will have a hard time remembering anything more than seven different information if they come at you in a short period, and you will likely forget them in less than 30 seconds.

Our brain processes just a certain amount of information in any communication, but not always can we grasp and recall the memory to a full extent.

That is why the clustering of information or data is a technical response to Miller's rule of thumb. If the message is delivered through smaller chunks of information, our brain has the opportunity to work within the limits of short-term memory.

Lecture 4 : Manuel Lima’s 9 Directives Manifesto

Manuel Lima’s Information Visualization Manifesto, as published on the blog VisualComplexity.com, provides a working list that can help provide clarity on what Information Visualization through 9 directives, why information visualization differs from information art or infographics.

1. Form Follows Function: “the purpose should always be centered on the explanation, which in turn leads to insight.” Start with a Question: Your work should always be driven by a query.

Fig 4.1 - Form Follows Function

2. Interactivity is Key: Allows for investigation and learning through discovery

Fig 4.2 - Interactivity is Key

3. Cite Your Source: Always disclose where your data originated.

Fig 4.3 - Cite Your Source

4. The Power of Narrative: Humans love stories. Elaborate your information into storytelling to make it more interesting and memorable.

Fig 4.4 - The Power of Narrative

5. Do Not Glorify Aesthetics: “should always be a consequence and never a goal”

Fig 4.5 - Do Not Glorify Aesthetics

6. Look for Relevancy: Why are you visualizing the information?

Fig 4.6 - Look for Relevancy

7. Embrace Time: Time is difficult to work with. That’s why time management is one of the key factor to organize and achieve better results for any decision making.

Fig 4.7 - 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.”

Fig 4.8 - Aspire for Knowledge

9. Avoid Gratuitous Visualizations: “should respond as a cognitive filter, an empowered lens of insight, and should never add more noise to the flow”

Fig 4.9 - Avoid Gratuitous Visualizations

Lecture 5 : Constructive Workflow

The constructive workflow starts with the way you think.

To make your work more productive, it is important to synchronize your workflow and construct how your brain works. Once you understand how the computer language works, your ideas become digitally more generative.

Tip 1: Understand the question

"It is not about the answer, it's about asking the right questions."

Tip 2: Contact a strategic plan

Evaluate data & information.
Identify pros and cons.
Create a content creation plan.
Understand your outcomes.
Build case studies.

Tip 3: Fill in the blanks

Create empty folder as a structure
Fill in each folders with a progress.
Synchronize all working files for each software requirements.

Tip 4: Get some idea and inspiration

Explore existing ideas as a guide & reference, so that you're on track with what you're doing.

Tip 5: Set a perimeter

Ideas are limitless.
Time is a constraint.
Identify your strengths.
Reference is just a benchmark.
Solution is the answer

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Rachel Ng Jie Ting (0378902)

Information Design / Lectures

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