INFORMATION DESIGN / EXERCISES

10/01/2023 - 24/02/2023 / Week 1- Week 7

Chew Zhi Ern / 0358995

Information Design / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Exercises

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INSTRUCTIONS

<iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BLGAa76zxJUI1ia5gyOVkE5hlQPjNVj3/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>

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LECTURES

Week 1: Briefing to Module & Introduction to Type of Infographics 

Group Work

Week 2: Kinetic Typography

1. Open After Effects
2. Composition: 1920 x 1080 px 
3. Insert MP3 file
4. Layer > New > Text > Type in all the lyrics > Replace
5. Adjust the keyframe of every single word
6. Layer > New > Null Object > Select all lyrics layer > Parent Pick Whip > Drag to the Null Object Layer

Week 3: Instructable Infographics

• Pie Chart

1. Open After Effects
2. Composition > New Composition > Composition Name: (Rename) > Ratio: 1920 x 1080 px (Lock Aspect Ratio)> Frame Rate: 25 seconds > Resolution: Half > Duration: 0:00:03:00 > OK
3. Right Click > New > Solid > Name: BG > 1920 x 1080 px
4. Deselect the BG layer > Ellipse Tool > Draw a circle by holding Shift > Align it > Reset Anchor Point: Select Pan Behind (Anchor Point) Tool > Ctrl + Double Click on the Pan Behind Tool
5. Fill: None > Stroke: Solid Colour (10 px)
6. Recolour > Increase the stroke width until fully filled in the circle
7. Shape Layer 1 > Add: Trim Paths
8. Trim Paths 1 > Add an End keyframe: 100% > Move to 01:00f > Create a new End Keyframe in the beginning: 0% 
9. Select the Keyframe > Right Click > Keyframe Assistant > Easy Ease
10. Duplicate it: Ctrl + D > Recolour > Rename the layer
11. Adjust the Start Keyframe: 25% > Move to 01:00f > Create a new Start Keyframe in the beginning: 0% 
12. Repeat Steps 10 & 11 until the Start Keyframe is 75%

• Doughnut Chart

1. Same Steps with Pie Chart
2. Decrease the Stroke Width

• Bar Chart

1. Open After Effects
2. Composition > New Composition > Composition Name: (Rename) > Ratio: 1920 x 1080 px (Lock Aspect Ratio)> Frame Rate: 25 seconds > Resolution: Half > Duration: 0:00:03:00 > OK
3. Right Click > New > Solid > Name: BG > 1920 x 1080 px
4. Turn on the Proportional Grid
5. Deselect the BG layer > Pen Tool > Fill: None > Stroke: Solid Colour (130 px)
6. Start to draw the bar by holding Shift to draw a straight line
7. Shape Layer 1 > Add: Trim Paths
8. Trim Paths 1 > Add an End keyframe: 100% > Move to 01:00f > Create a new End Keyframe in the beginning: 0% 
9. Reverse the Path Direction (Downwards to Upwards): Shape 1 > Reverse Path Direction On
10. Select the Keyframe > Right Click > Keyframe Assistant > Easy Ease
11. Duplicate it: Ctrl + D > Recolour > Rename the layer
12. Reposition to another x-axis
13. Readjust all of the End Keyframe

• Line Chart

1. Open After Effects
2. Composition > New Composition > Composition Name: (Rename) > Ratio: 1920 x 1080 px (Lock Aspect Ratio)> Frame Rate: 25 seconds > Resolution: Half > Duration: 0:00:03:00 > OK
3. Right Click > New > Solid > Name: BG > 1920 x 1080 px
4. Turn on the Proportional Grid
5. Deselect the BG layer > Pen Tool > Fill: None > Stroke: Solid Colour (10 px)
6. Start to draw the line
7. Shape Layer 1 > Add: Trim Paths
8. Trim Paths 1 > Add an End keyframe: 100% > Move to 01:00f > Create a new End Keyframe in the beginning: 0% 
9. Select the Keyframe > Right Click > Keyframe Assistant > Easy Ease
10. Redraw the Line > Recolour > Rename the layer
11. Add all of the End Keyframe

Week 4: Vector & Character Animation 

In Illustrator:

1. Create graphics in AI (Artboard resolution: 1920x1080)
2. Select layers that intend to animate
3. Place them on separate layers (Separate subjects in different layers)

Import to After Effects:

1. Import as Composition
2. Layers separated for animation   

Vector Animation

Basic Transform Properties:

1. Position
2. Scale
3. Rotation

Advanced:

1. Bounce effects

Character Animation

Basic Transform Properties:

1. Position
2. Scale
3. Rotation

Advanced:

1. Wiggle
2. Puppet Position Pin Tool

Week 5: Project 1 - Instructable Poster & Final Project - Burnout
Project 1: Finalize the poster according to feedback from Mr. Hafiz, begin to work of the Motion Graphics. Show 1st draft of your motion graphics on week 6.

Final Project: Finish all assets in Illustrator (including text and background)

Week 6: Project 1 - Instructable Poster & Final Project - Burnout

Finalise the motion graphics for viewing on week 7.

Week 7: Final Feedback Before Submission 

We have our finalised works and final feedback given by Mr. Hafiz. We made any necessary adjustments based on his input and prepared our project for submission.

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PROJECT

Week 1: Exercise - Infographic Poster Redesign

Figure 1.1 Poor Example of Infographic Poster
https://visme.co/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/wtf-data-viz-3.jpg

Figure 1.2 Redesign Poster

Mistakes in creating the infographic above

1. Choosing the wrong type of chart
• The selection data visualization does not accurately reflect the information
• Since the respondents were given a single choice, the answers add up to 100 %
• This means that a pie chart--not a bar chart
2. Unfavorable order of information
• The information is not presented in descending order
• More difficult to understand & compare the figures

To choose the right type of chart, just ask yourself if you want to:

• Compare values: 
• Bar chart
• Line chart
• Show the individual parts that make up a whole:
• Pie chart
• Stacked bar
• Stacked column
• Understand how the data is distributed:
• Scatter plot
• Line chart
• Bar chart
• Analyze trends:
• Line chart
• Bar chart
• Comprehend the relationship between data sets:
• Line chart
• Scatter plot
• Bubble chart

Week 1: Exercise 1 - Quantify & Visualize Data

In this task, we were required to arrange objects (Lego/ buttons/ coins etc) with relevant indicators written out with pens to help you visualize the quantity and data.

Figure 2.1 A box of 'S' Hook with different colours

Figure 2.2 Progression - Sorting out the items according to the colours

Figure 2.3 Final 'S' Hook Infographic

Week 1: Task for Final Project - Personal Burnout Experience

With the ongoing pandemic and new normal, there has definitely been a huge shift in all our lives, especially the concept of studying from home. Due to the lack of face-to-face teaching, I faced a lot of difficulties in my upcoming big exams. By the end of 2021, I had realised how constantly worn down and unmotivated I felt in several areas of my life. Even while my passion and lofty ambitions drive me to go to any lengths to get what I think I want, there is a sense of emptiness and a lack of purpose in all I do. From the outside, everything appears to be going well and I'm headed in the right direction, but on the inside, everything seems to be dark and hopeless, with no light at the end of the tunnel in sight. When I got exhausted, I started looking for food to momentarily escape the issue since I found momentary consolation in food. My eating habits and ongoing elevated stress levels contributed to my uncontrollable weight. But I was fortunate to find a wonderful buddy who supported me in my luminous circle as well as individuals in my personal life who I could turn to for aid.

Week 2: Practical - Kinetic Typography

Figure 3.1 The making of lyrics animation

Figure 3.2 Final Outcome

Week 2: Exercise 2 - L.A.T.C.H

The organization of information is finite as it can only be organized by L.A.T.C.H: 

1. Location: Compare information coming from various sources
2. Alphabet: Used for very large bodies of information
3. Time: Used for events that occur over a fixed duration
4. Category: Well reinforced by color & placement
5. Hierarchy: Assign value or weight to the information; usually on a scale

In the exercise, we were told to organize a group of information into a visual poster that combined and utilizes the LATCH principles. (min. 4)

Requirements:
Size resolution: 1240 × 1750 pixels / 2048 × 2048 pixels

Use a digital photo editing / illustration software available to assemble the pokemons into a LATCH infographic poster. You can re-use back the images of the monsters, but do create the rest of your own visuals to complete the poster.

Information Source Reference

In order to give myself some ideas, I made some visual references from Pinterest.

Figure 4.1 Reference 1
https://pin.it/hkk0C8r

Figure 4.2 Reference 2
https://pin.it/21zRQPg

Figure 4.3 Reference 3
https://pin.it/1oAM0wT

Since Pokémon is a series of video games, I want to add some related elements, such as the game consoles. To come up with the best layout and design for my poster, I have made various versions of it.

Figure 4.4 Tried on various layouts and designs

Figure 4.5 Decided to work on this layout and design

Figure 4.6 The Process of making the poster

Figure 4.7 Final Outcome for the L.A.T.C.H Poster

Week 3: Practical - Animation Charts/Graph

A chart is a graphical representation for data visualization. 

The three main types of charts are:

1. Pie Chart
2. Bar Chart
3. Line Chart

Figure 5.1 Figure Process of Making the Pie Chart

Figure 5.2 Animated Pie Chart

Figure 5.3 Figure Process of Making the Doughnut Chart

Figure 5.4 Outcome for Doughnut Chart Animation

Figure 5.5 Figure Process of Making the Bar Chart

Figure 5.6 Bar Chart Animation

Figure 5.7 Figure Process of Making the Line Chart

Figure 5.8 Animated Line Chart Outcome

Week 4: Practical - Vector Animation

Figure 6.1 Process of Vector Animation Using Adobe After Effects

Figure 6.2 Outcome of Vector Animation Practice

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REFERENCES

https://visme.co/blog/bad-infographics/

https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex