The New Basics

The Diagram:

This reading brought up some great points in relation to what we are discovering for ourselves. Lupton talks about the importance of networking and how we associate things together. I thought this was important because when brain storming of ways to visualize our concept we bring out the ways that our icon's can work as a connection between subject matters.

"Information graphics do have a role to play in the realm of expressive and editorial graphs" This is a great way to sum up exactly what the function of a diagram is. From when we are children we may not be able to read but we can understand the visual language. By showing pie charts, bar graphs people have taught us how to read in a visual way. Even when business men are coming up with a proposal for their client, an information graphic can be useful to show a complex concept in a reduced clarified form.

"Networks are everywhere- not just in technology, but throughout nature and society" Through my narrative, a reoccurring theme is to give emphasis on nature, and what raw materials we can learn from.

Overlapping: Especially when discussing the relationships of objects or a process it is good to use overlapping to help the subject matter connect.

A thought I had when thinking about the value of overlapping was the comparison. How can you show comparison in an interesting way. It made me think back to the line project when we studied juxtaposition. For me, I am starting to wonder what kind of juxtaposition can two sides of the comparison have for each other.

She mentions the impact that scale change can have on the composition. Using hierarchy, and text to emphasis certain aspects and using using a smaller scale for the less important elements.

What I got out? In my personal opinion I noticed a lot of her examples were of diagrams with smaller text. Although typography is a valued layer, when making a info graph it is important not to rely on text. In some examples typography is used in an art form, making the piece flow together and giving written dialog to the diagram.

find and share vis com

I just was doing a little research on photosynthesis and I found a great info graphic on the cycle of it. This is helpful because the viewer can see how plants and humans use each other's sources for living. This I would consider to be a linear progress. The viewer is taken the steps through the index's of the process. It is another great example of showing hierarchy, by using the index's and layering of each step, which is most important. It show process between the colors of the arrows, notice how the gradation of one arrow goes into the next step, each step is shown by it's own color. Even with color, the diagram is keeping with a cohesive color combination. It shows that by using color with the arrows, think about what step it is and what color can visually represent that step, while also not being over powering by the step, but leaving the importance up to the imagery. Placement is also being thought of, recognizing what visually makes sense.

extra thought: one thing that I have noticed in information graphics is the importance of labeling. By labeling things it helps to give clarification. However, showing labels and some text is good, but the point of a information graphics is to visually communicate the subject matter. Depending on how abstract the diagram is, the typography will clarify to the viewer different depths of the piece. One thing I need to keep in mind is how to relay less (for example) "typing out what the steps of the leaves" and more on the communication between the iconic's and mapping, time based, and comparison. With this example if you were to exclude the labels the viewer would still be able to understand what it is about, but the text is working as a hint. (if that makes any sense)

Color Theory

what is CYMK, what is RGB?

This layout is beautiful I think

F&S

Nice Mag Layouts

wEather Typography reflection

Using expressive typography was very fun. I enjoyed actually using my hands to make the images. I learned a lot about scale change and how it can develop the sense of depth, mass, and value which I used in all of my designs. I still need to work on the bus's dusk because it is hard to read. I also need to make the logo more visible, and perhaps play with color? In my spreads I had to learn the balance of making imagery and hierarchy with the typography. Not only was the images made from different cut up typefaces but then we overlapped the images with logos and tag-lines. For me it was important to pay attention to the positive and negative space and the relationship that can have in the spread. Also, how the expressive typography can identify the weather condition while being cohesive with the other spreads. In the end I was happy with my spreads, although I wish they had a bit of color or something extra. I really liked bringing the expressive type into motion. I wanted the animation to be believable to the weather condition, and to have interlaced translations between each condition. I still need to work on the animation, but it has a clear concept.

Untitled from Janna Johnsrud on Vimeo.

Vis. Com 2, Final Color Reflection

During the process of finalizing my colored icons I had to think of what connotations my color swatches had and how they would relate to my icon set. I wanted to have colors that were something you would find outside, and also keep in mind something youthful. Since my story has to deal with a child going bug hunting, it was important to really analysis the connotation because it helps the icons become a stronger set. Through this process I learned a lot about color. How the different hues, value change, and saturation can really impact the meaning and depth behind the icon. When we view successful icons, we are able to understand the icon and its stylistic quality. This is also impacted by color, and how the color can only heighten the meaning behind it. By giving color it also makes the icons more interesting to view. I still need to go back and revise the color. One thing I noticed when adding color to my icons was that it was harder to scale them down. The impact of a hue and not depending on black and white made it harder to scale down. I came up with many different swatches and I should stretch all the possibilities that I have with them (and also keeping in mind all the ways that make a successful icon set).

Image making: Final Virtue

When brainstorming about the virtues I knew I wanted to accomplish a tone of comedy. I initially wanted to use people but then decided against it. I thought of the animals because I tend to make funny voices to go along with animals and thought it would be fun. The most challenging part was to really understand the virtues. Their was many times when I had to look up the definition and what the opposite was. I found that researching the sin really did help to strengthen my virtue. Finding the correct animals were difficult as well. Because they are toy miniatures they already have their own gestural poses, and finding animals that have ties to the virtue was difficult. In the end some of my animals were not a direct link to the virtue, but by the way I would arrange them and include index's they would then resemble the virtue. From a week ago I really looked to indexical signs that really made a difference in the images. At first I was depending too much on the text to really speak through, but in the end it became icing on the cake. One of the last minute decisions was to take the photos outside, and I am so glad I did. People most commented on the that it was good to put them outside.