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Binaebi Akah » PROJECT 2.A I590 Spring 2010

Digital Imagery as Technology & Information » SKETCH

 

“There is no such thing as

‘information overload,’ only 

bad presentation.”

- Edward Tufte

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Binaebi Akah » PROJECT 2.A I590 Spring 2010

Digital Imagery as Technology & Information » DESIGN RESEARCH

Information Design Infographic Mindmap

Because we are rmly in the “Information

Age,” it seems to me that the method in which

we showcase information is imperative.

As mentioned by Alex Wright in the book

Glut, the internet has made it so people have

access to more information than ever before.

Yet, how much are we comprehending? It is

one thing to see information and understand;

it is another to comprehend and discuss.

Shown above is a Venn diagram by Andrew

Yau, a traditional method of encapsulating

information into a visual format meant for

comprehension. It is simple enough for a

cursory inspection, yet detailed to potentially

inspire passionate discussion.

With all of this information to sift through, it is

ever more difcult to remember information

that was once the standard, such as grammar.

In general, people are less likely to memorize

bits of information today because we rely

on the internet as a constantly-available

resource. That is, there is no need to

remember something now if I can look it up

later. Unless, that is, the information is shown

in a memorable, humorous method.

For instance, this is an infographic that walks

the reader through a decision tree for using

an apostrophe. It uses visuals to simplify the

information and provide examples, and so is

more memorable for the reader.

I chose these examples for their varying

levels of formality and ease of comprehension

when compared to prose papers.

The rst aids comprehension of the similarities

and differences within a set, delineated by

the different circles and colors. The second

utilizes comic-inspired images with arrows

and boxes to showcase relationships and

potential decisions.

The third is interesting because of its

informality. It is hand-drawn, does not

rely on grids, and has many colors. Yet,

the information is still understood, and

the content is memorable due to the self-

deprecating humor.

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Secondary Attributions

Edward Tufte quote from Adam Fullteron’s

blogpost discussing a Tufte workshop (http://

www.adamfullerton.com/?p=588) @ Jan 31, 2010

Photo of an infographic (source: Binaebi Akah,

drawn by Binaebi Akah, Bloomington IN

Jan 2010)

 “What makes good information design?” 

from Information is Beautiful (source: David

McCandless, http://www.informationisbeautiful.

net/2009/interesting-easy-beautiful-true/) @ Jan

31, 2010

 “How to use an apostrophe” from The Oatmeal

(source: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/

apostrophe) @ Jan 31, 2010

 “Behold the awesome science of 

mindmapping” from Flickr (source: Tobias

Lunchbreath http://www.ickr.com/photos/

lunchbreath/4129600869/) @ Jan 31, 2010

 “Clay Sharky on Information Overload vs Filter

Failure” (source: Boing Boing http://www.

boingboing.net/2010/01/31/clay-shirky-on-infor.

html) @ Feb 1, 2010

Primary Attributions 

Lynn Dombrowski

Information as opinion and meaning-making

through creativity; using layers in InDesign.

Edward Tufte

Bad presentation of information leads

to information overload. 

Alex Wright

Information and intellectual capital management 

is difcult.

Binaebi Akah » PROJECT 2.A I590 Spring 2010

Digital Imagery as Technology & Information » ATTRIBUTIONS

Specifications

Designed by Binaebi Akah in Adobe InDesign CS4

using the Typography menu set.

Heading character style is Bookman Old Style

Regular, size 14 pt, leading 19 pt + tracking 30.

Paragraph character style is Verdana Regular,

size 10 pt, leading 14 pt + tracking 10.