Reading 5: Small Multiples

So, small multiples are basically multiples of an image with various changes that show alternatives to the image or whatnot. Reminds me of a flip book.

Relatively easy to understand and to the point chapter. I agree with Tufte that small images of something like train illustration on page 68 is easily understood because the images are all the same except for the changes in the lights. It makes it easier to focus on what's important and what info is supposed to go through your mind.

Hm, not much else to say about it...

Logo

I saw this stick logo on the Kogi truck this weekend and thought it was pretty cool. I'm pretty sure the initials are HRS but I thought it was weird it had nothing to so with the website name. Maybe it's the creators initials? Nope, I checked their website and it's not. I stared at it for a while trying to figure out if it actually was an H or T or M and whatnot too since food truck food often takes forever.

Reading 4: Layering and Seperation

This chapter talked a lot about a concept called 1+1=3 or more. After the initial reading of the definition, I soon forgot what it meant and by the end of the chapter I think I still fared pretty well without knowing what it meant. Well, after looking back to the first page I think I can conclude that 1+1=3 or more, means that when you combine two design elements, you can unintentionally create one or more extra elements wanted or not. (Correct me if I'm wrong about that definition cause Tufte never seems to have direct definitions.)

Tufte goes a lot into what is "chart junk" I suppose and how to clearly define data without bringing emphasis to the wrong data. For example, the image of the musical notes on page 59. Using thinner lines rather than thicker lines, it takes the emphasis away from the lines and onto the music notes.

Simple alterations can make a design a whole lot better.

Poverty Levels

Poverty in America

I saw this map on Yahoo. I was reading an article about how the new homeless population is quickly becoming more children too. If you go to the link, it's actually an interactive map that tells you state by state data about the percent in poverty.

Here's the link to the children in poverty article too.

Reading 3: Micro/Macro Readings

Did anyone else laugh when Tafte wrote about how "easily" it was to display the info of graph on page 39? Whut? Honestly, when I see graphs like that I overlook it and skip to the next page of reading. I don't know anything about "electrical resistivity of copper...", but there has to be a better way of representing the data than this solution.

However, I guess I understand (somewhat) what this chapter is trying to get into. Something along the lines of having a lot of detail in something, and creating a bigger picture out of it. You can see the details stacked with details in micro/macro pieces of work.

I thought the section on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was interesting. I like the conclusion of arranging the names by the date of death. If it was arranged alphabetically, then yes, it might be easier to find the name of a lost loved one but the memorial itself would look like a phone book as critiqued. A repetition of "James Jones" 16 times in a row would not look aesthetically correct.

Reading 2: Escaping Flatland

Originally I thought this chapter was about escaping flatland by creating more dimensions, however I think it goes a bit deeper than that from what I understand.

According to Tuft, information design is made beautiful by detail used (such as in maps) and bountiful amounts of data. I can agree with his view. Information escapes the flatland of dullness for me by catching my attention and making me want to know what a chart or map can tell me. Clarity is also an issue. Though it may catch my attention at first glance, if it's a jumble of data forced into my face I will not hesitate to pass it by.

I loved the images of the sunspot paths (pg 21). Very beautiful design with plenty of scholarly looking data marks(Italian?). The creator of the sunspot path Christopher Scheiner created an innovative solution to viewing sunspots on a flatland in a three dimensional plane.

Fuel

So I found this on the web which reminded me of our recent past project...

Very interesting way of getting a point across. Though I'm not too sure about the drawings of the gas cans. Look more like car batteries to me. Nonetheless, the info it gives off is something to consider. Carpool more.

Love the little humor at the end with the Whoppers too. Walking ftw!