University pictograms

For this week brief, we were asked to create a set of pictogram of my uni. 

Here is the design:  

One thing I don't like about it, is the lines are too thin.

A map making process...

1. Selection (what information will you depict) 
2. Classification (what ‘groupings’/info types)
3. Simplification (strip it down)
4. Symbolization (represent it)

Typography

1. Visual Hierarchy - Classification: Countries, Region, Cities.
2. Size, Upper case, Style and Weight.

My route to university

Light Night

I found this map from Light Night brochure last month and kept it as a reference. Aim of this map is to show where the events were taking place in Leeds city centre. This map was intended as a tour guide for those unfamiliar with the parking system, transportation or the locations of buildings such as museum and shopping malls. 

This map show a variety of things with only two main colours: car parks, street name, main buildings (shopping malls, town hall, central library, museum), transportation (bus station, train station, interchange). Because most visitors come to Leeds city centre to attend these events, so having white colour to show the event places and main streets could be a good way to capture viewer’s attention and quickly connect the map to the event information on the next page. Dark green to highlight the importance (transportation and museum), this would be the first information for new visitors on arrival. However, one thing I don’t like about is the information printed on the next page. The map and the event’s information should be on the same page so that reader could easily and quickly refer to. Another matter is that it is hard to find the event places on the map (its hard to refer from the events info), so I would suggest that the event place should be colourcoded. As a result reader could quicker to identify the colour highlighted. What makes reader easier to identify each building is the simplicity of this 2D map. It shows the relative size and shapes of the main buildings without extra distracting details. 

Burton Snowboards instruction manual

Current reading a book on information graphics and found this interesting piece of work to share with. 

Burton Snowboards created  a products’ instruction manual aiming to be accessible across culturally without language translation. 

This manual have only used pictures and numbers to indicates the use. And only used two main colours: Black used for pieces, red used for instructions (arrows, measurements and sounds effect) and orange used to differentiate the pieces. All steps are structured by circular panels with positive and negative space in alternative, this could be a good way to identify each steps without splitting attention of the viewer. I found the third step in this manual very impressive. It shows the optimum distance between the SlapRatchet and the binding when the foot is in the binding. The x-ray foot and aerial view makes that part more clear of where the wearer should feel the pressure from the strap. In the last step, it used a old fashion comic book style to illustrate the action with sound, bursts and words. Although this is an old style but it demonstrates effectively.  

AirTrain

AirTrain is a light rail system developed to link Newark and John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport to Manhattan. 

Due to the fact that the majority of the potential users of this transit does not speak English or English is not their first language, so the maps were designed to not be language dependent. Using bold colours against dark background helps to maximize the contrast and visibility for dirty and dusty outdoor environment. The logo itself was done in a simple way, easily describing the transportation system: a rail meets a plan. The typographic is very legible in any size, it could be the most effective font to serve in any colours. The colour coding helps to categorize: red for Newark and blue for JFK. As well as the shapes were introduced to distinguish the difference: squares for terminals and circles for stations (on JFK map), Pear shaped for terminals and squares for car parks. Having think dashed lines to shows the routes and this idea is also match with the “rail”.   

Famous maps

Mappa Mundi, C.1300
To know more watch the clip here.

Another famous example is called Map of nowhere by Grayson Perry, who was heavily influenced by Mappa Mundi.

Jacopo De Barberi was a Italian. His most famous work was known as "Map of Venice". It was made out of Woodcut then took it to print. In this map, it captured the view from a bird, without people actually flying up.  

So how history can inform us in modern maps?

Applying Johannes Itten's 7 contrast theory into information graphic

Johannes Itten defined in his book called "The art of colour", 1974 that there are 7 different contrast effects you can get in this world which are: 

1. Hue contrast (the pure colour)- This results when pure colours are used in random combinations. White and black can further enhance the vivid. 
2. Light dark contrast- This is when using different brightnesses and tone values of the colours. All colours can be lightened with white, and darkened with black.
3. Cold warm contrast- All other colours appear cold or warm depending on their contrast with warmer or colder hues. The greatest effect is achieved with the orange-red and blue-green.
4. Complementary contrast- When adjacent, they mutually intensify their luminosity to a maximum.
5. Simultaneous contrast- When adjacent, they make noise, vibration.  
6. Saturation contrast (quality)- Contrast between luminous and dull colours. Colours can be subdued by the addition of black, white, grey or complementary colours. 
7. Quantity contrast- This is based on the opposition of coloured areas of different sizes. 

Here is an example:

Light dark contrast

Complementary contrast (red-green)

Jacques Bertin's 7 variables

Currently reading a book called visual function. In this book, the author demonstrated Jacques Bertin's 7 variables. Jacques Bertin was a French guy who had experience on map making for many years. He was famous by publishing a book on the theory of "graphic variables", Semilogie Graphique. In this theory he defined there are 7 elements of visual information and their mutual relationship, which are:

1. Place (position)
2. Shape
3. Size
4. Value (light, size)
5. Texture (within the shape)
6. Hue
7. Orientation (shape) /Direction (line)

To grind up herbs and spices

OXO’s packaging show the entire grinding process in sequential order. Starting from a photo of the whole herbs/ spices on the left, the diagram of the grinder in action follows then the result (photo of a neat circular pile of the freshly ground flavorings). Using iconic drawing to demonstrate the product uses. An arrow encircling each illustrated tool act out the rotational movement of the grinder. These icons also differentiated the categories: filled circles refers to peppers and stylized shapes for garlic. “The spices that come with the grinders are sorted and packaged into categories of compatible flavors.” design director Paul Hamburger stated. The packaging is colour coded to differentiate the categories, and to create “a kind of paint-by-number simplicity”. Using colours that bear as close a resemblance to the categories as they can. Red refers to peppers, pale yellow refers to garlic and green for basil.

It can be concluded that these images works well. Using simple graphics to shows the process of turning whole herbs/ spices into ground ones just like step 1, 2, 3. The icons, photos and the colours identify the type of herbs/ spices processed by each product.   

Instruction on dealing with workplace injury

Bold and colourful numbers creates a high contrast with the background and skillfully grab my attention. The warning coloration at the edge gives idea of the dangerous of this poster. As a piece this provides a very clear instruction because each steps provides a sign and explanation text. And the signs itself are very simply designed plus the font and colour are legible. There is are slightly problem with the signs and text placing too near the edge. And one thing I don’t understand is the number 82; placing at the top of the poster for no reason, unnecessary elements should be removed.

Sign on ferry

Found this bad example while researching on signage. This sign was found on a ferry in Ireland crossing the shannon.

There are three main areas which form what we understand as semiotics; the signs themselves, the way they are organised into systems and the context in which they appear. The first interpretation of this sign was a hand holding a knife. The colour red represent warn, as well as the explosion shape resemble the action like stab, hit, grab, bang etc,. Therefore, this could be a warning sign of people being stab. On the other hand, it could be a sign to remind people to hold tight to the handles (easy to fall down). This sign have not got any words for explanation which makes it harder to understand. 

Scales

NOSIGNER, Scales at HERE

Found this interesting work when I was looking through D&AD website.

Scales was designed for a private school for children. Units of measurement were used as the motif. Measuring the growth achieved was the concepts behind the signs. The first photo is the

columns at the entrance resemble the scale of the nine size unites (cm, yard, feet, inch, etc.). Children could learn unfamiliar scales while measuring their height. Scales is a tool where the 

design and space fuse with the measurements.