Information Design

Information Design

Dr. Michael Wamposzyc gave a lecture followed by a group discussion regarding Data sensory and Generative systems, this was related to my project at the time and inspired a new understanding of systems and the way they function in society.

Information Design can demonstrate many possibilities in displaying quantities and vital information, using visual techniques such as, points, lines, coordinated systems, symbols words, and colours, The vast variety of range in displaying information can be limitless and flexible.

It wasn’t until the 1750s and 1800’s where visual graphs and detailed information designs began to be based on empirical statistical data, time gaps, scatter plots and multivariate displays..

Modern Data graphics are far more complex with the addition of machines generating heavy mathematical visualisations and detailed quantitative information, this helped source social and economic information, generally this would be hard to perceive if it wasn’t simplified in visual form.

The lecture aided me in understanding the detailed historical significance of how information design functions for a different purpose and context.

Edward Tufte’s the display of quantitative information explains that excellence in statistical graphics consist of many simple and complex ideas that need to be understood with clarity, precision and effective decision making in regards to how the data should be shown. (Tufte, 1983,p13)

The key principles he mentions are:

• Show the data visually clearly.

• Substance in the data, storytelling as a means of showing the message of the data. design as opposed to the methodology used to demonstrate the information.

• Clarity in the data, distortion can lead to misinterpretation.

• Make large data sets coherent.

• Encourage the viewer to compare the data if there is more that one set.

• Reveal the data at several levels / layers to see the progress and demonstrate a broad overview.

• Make sure the data serves a purpose, the story, description, captions, explorations, experimentation and decoration are all factors that should be considered.

• Integrate statistical data with verbal descriptions to describe appropriately.

Dr.Michael also gave a very interesting example from Dr John Snow's map, a chart pattern that displayed how a certain disease was spreading in the city of London.

Snow plotted the location of deaths from Cholera in central London in September 1854,

Tuftes explains how the Deaths were marked by dots and how the areas eleven water pumps were located by crosses, examining the scatter over the surface of the map, Snow observed that cholera occurred almost entirely among those who lived near and drank from the Broad Street water pump. He had the handle of the contaminated pump removed, ending the neighborhood epidemic which had taken more than 500 lives.

The pump is located at the center of the map, just to the right of the D in BROAD STREET. Of course the link between the pump and the disease might have been revealed by computation and analysis without graphics, with some good luck and hard work. But, here at least, graphical analysis testifies about the data far more efficiently than calculation.(Tufte, 1983,p24)

The Information Design lecture with the addition of reading Tufte’s books helped me gain a very good insight into how information graphics can inform complex ideas through various methodologies and further make data informed decisions in projects.

Reference

Tufte, E.R. (2001) The visual display of quantitative information. 2nd edn. United States: Graphics Press USA. E.W. Gilbert, “Pioneer Maps of Health and Disease in England,” Geographical Journal, 124 (1958), 172-183.