Information Design/Exercises 1&2

03/02/2025 - 10/02/2024 (Week 01 – Week 02)

Shao Han / 0369187

Information Design / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylors University

Exercises 1&2

CONCENT

• INTRODUCTION
• LECTURES
• EXERCISES
• REFLECTIONS

INTRODUCTION

LECTURE

WEEK 1

Type of Infographics

1. List infographics
   
2. Statistical infographics
3. How-to infographics
4. Timeline infographics
5. Comparison infographics
6. Map and location infographics
7. Flowchart infographics
8. Process description infographics

List Infographics – Present information in a list format with engaging visuals to make it easier to read and remember.

Fig1.1 List Infographics,Week 1 (03/02/2025)

Statistical Infographics – Use charts, graphs, and numbers to showcase data-driven insights or trends.

Fig1.2 Statistical Infographics,Week 1 (03/02/2025)

How-to Infographics – Provide step-by-step instructions for completing a task or process, often using visuals to simplify complex information.

Fig1.3 How-to Infographics,Week 1 (03/02/2025)

Timeline Infographics – Display events or milestones in chronological order to show progress, history, or future projections.

Fig1.4 Timeline Infographics,Week 1 (03/02/2025)

Comparison Infographics – Contrast two or more items, ideas, or concepts by highlighting similarities and differences.

Fig1.5 Comparison Infographics,Week 1 (03/02/2025)

Map and Location Infographics – Use maps to illustrate geographic data, trends, or regional statistics.

Fig1.6 Map & Location Infographics,Week 1 (03/02/2025)

Flowchart Infographics – Represent decision-making processes, workflows, or system structures through interconnected steps and paths.

Fig1.7 Flowchart Infographics,Week 1 (03/02/2025)

Process Description Infographics – Explain a specific process in a clear, structured format to improve understanding and usability.

Fig1.8 Process Description Infographics,Week 1 (03/02/2025)

Reference

• 8 Types of Infographics-https://www.wix.com/blog/types-of-infographics
• What is an Infographics-https://www.adobe.com/uk/express/learn/blog/what-is-an-infographic
• How does Creative Process work-https://fauziyusoff.com 

Week 2

L.A.T.C.H Theory

• Location

Organize information based on geographic or spatial location, suitable for maps, navigation systems, urban planning, travel guides, etc.

Fig2.1 Location,Week 2 (10/02/2025)

• Alphabet

Alphabetical sorting of information, suitable for directories, indexes, contact lists, etc.

Fig2.2 Alphabet,Week 2 (10/02/2025)

• Time

Arranges information in chronological order, suitable for chronology, schedule, storytelling, etc.

Fig2.3 Time,Week 2 (10/02/2025)

• Category

Grouping information by similarity or theme is suitable for data classification, library systems, e-commerce, etc.

Fig2.4 Category,Week 2 (10/02/2025)

• Hierarchy

Sort information based on importance, size, or impact. Suitable for organizational structures, decision trees, ranking lists, etc.

Fig2.5 Hierarchy,Week 2 (10/02/2025)

L.A.T.C.H. theory can be used in data visualization, information design, and user experience optimization to help people organize and understand information more effectively.

EXERCISES

WEEK 1/Exercise 1

Requirement:

Gather a set of objects and separate it into category such as color, shape, pattern, and other quantifiable factor.
Example:

1. Box of Lego
2. Jar of button
3. Jar of marble ball
4. Set of colourful rubber strap

In this exercise we are required to quantify our chosen objects and arrange them into a presentable layout or chart. 
The information must be presented as is, and we need to arrange the objects with relevant indicators written out with pens to help us to visualize the quantity and data. The examples of objects that can be use are buttons, coins, lego pieces, M&Ms, and more.

Process:

I originally planned to use M&Ms to make it, but because of the hot weather, they melted on my hands and couldn't be used, so I decided to change the material.

I chose some plastic beads as a production tool, they can easily buy a lot in the store, and very similar to M&Ms, meet the homework requirements.

Fig1.1 Plastic beads,Week 1 (03/02/2025)

In the first step, I took the glass beads out of the package and randomly put them on the paper without making any changes. This is the original data.

Fig1.2 Data,Week 1 (03/02/2025)

Next, on the basis of data, I roughly classify the plastic beads by color, put the same colors together, which becomes sorted.

Fig1.3 Sorted,Week 1 (03/02/2025)

In sorted, although plastic beads are classified by color, there is still no clear distinction. In arranged, I make a clear distinction between plastic beads of different colors.

Fig1.4 Arranged,Week 1 (03/02/2025)

After that, I found that the number of plastic beads corresponding to each color was different, so on the basis of color classification, I further arranged and classified the plastic beads according to the number, and arranged the number from less to more.

Fig1.5 Explained visually,Week 1 (03/02/2025)

Next, I started with the color of plastic beads to develop my advanced concept.

Different colors can represent different emotions, such as blue corresponds to calmness and sadness, red represents excitement, yellow represents happiness and so on.

But I personally prefer to match the colors together, different colors form a new combination, the picture appears active and lively, even if there is blue representing sadness, it will not affect the emotional effect of the whole picture, but more abundant.

I began to think about the lively scene.

This is a pattern inspired by ribbons.People use colorful ribbons to celebrate, and the increase in number abstractly expresses the development of the atmosphere.

Fig1.6  Progression idea,Week 1 (03/02/2025)

But I want to be a little more interesting.

The inspiration for this pattern is lollipop, the pattern from the inside to the outside, the number of plastic beads increases gradually, making the pattern more layered, and the colorful colors not only accord with the characteristics of lollipop, but also show the sweetness of candy (this is another expression of color in the sense, not just expressing emotion).

Fig1.7 Lollipop,Week 1 (03/02/2025)

Fig1.8  Final Progression idea-Lollipop,Week 1 (03/02/2025)

WEEK 2/Exercise 2

Requirement:

1. Organize a group of information into a visual poster that combines and utilizes the LATCH principles (Minimum 4). 
2. We are required to use the digital photo editing/illustration software available to assemble the information into a LATCH infographic poster. 
3. We are allowed to reuse back the images but you have to create the rest of visuals to complete the poster.

Process:

According to the assignment requirements and reference cases provided by Mr. Fauzi, I understood the needs of the assignment and decided to produce information posters based on the L.A.T.C.H principle from the four aspects of Location, Time, Category, and Hierarchy.

I decided to use world-famous movies as the subject of this exercise.

First, I listed the key information I wanted to include in my infographic poster. I categorized the information into: 

1. The location where the movie was shot
2. The time when the movie was released
3. The genre of the movie
4. The box office ranking of the movie. 

These made the LATCH principle more clearly presented.

L.A.T.C.H

I chose several steps of world-famous movies to sort out the data, and listed the key information I needed according to the L.A.T.C.H principles.

Visual Reference

Next, I began to look for the typesetting reference of the poster. I think the poster can be typeset around the timeline, so in the process of looking for reference, I focus on the use and design of the timeline.

Fig2.1  Visual reference,Week 2 (10/02/2025)

Sketches

In this step, I began to design my poster layout according to the reference picture.

In the initial sketch, I simply determined the design of the time element of the poster, representing the timeline with a basic curve, and each segment represents a period of historical time, which can clearly reflect the release time of these well-known films. The curvilinear timeline can also compress the poster space well in order to express more information.

On this basis, the type information of the film can be added to reflect the design principles.

Fig2.2  Sketch 1,Week 2 (10/02/2025)

In the second sketch, I added the box office ranking information of the movie and expressed it intuitively in the way of a bar chart.

Fig2.3  Sketch 2,Week 2 (10/02/2025)

Finally, with the remaining location information, I decided to divide the geographical location on the world map based on the world map, which can directly and clearly reflect the location of each film. The previous compressed design made a good reservation for the world map.

Fig2.4  Sketch 3,Week 2 (10/02/2025)

Digitization
I need to do some preparatory work before digitization, such as finding the promotional pictures of the film and the background of the poster, which is one of the keys to this digitization, and we need to use pictures to reflect the theme.

Fig2.5  Film promotional map,Week 2 (10/02/2025)

For the bottom picture, I don't think it needs a complex pattern, otherwise it will make the picture unbalanced, but at the same time, it needs to match the theme, so I found a simple picture about the cinema.

Fig2.6  Base map,Week 2 (10/02/2025)

Finally, I made and perfected the poster in Photoshop. In order to make the picture more harmonious, I adjusted the size and transparency of the picture.

Resizing pictures and text can help the picture to be more coordinated and less crowded.

The adjustment of transparency can help readers / viewers to see text messages more easily.

Fig2.7  Overall infographics design process,Week 2 (10/02/2025)

Final L.A.T.C.H Infographic Poster

Fig2.8  Final L.A.T.C.H infographic poster,Week 2 (10/02/2025)

REFLECTION

Experiences

This exercise gave me an in-depth experience of how to quantify data and organize information based on L.A.T.C.H principles to make it more readable and visually attractive. In the data quantification exercise, I chose the plastic beads as the research object, classified according to the color, counted the quantity, and then tried different ways to visualize. Through the actual placement of items, I found that the physical arrangement of the data has a great impact on the clarity of the information.

During the L.A.T.C.H infographic design process, I tried to organize the data into at least four L.A.T.C.H dimensions. In the design process, I need to ensure that every part of the message is easy to understand and matches the overall look. This helps me understand why design and visual communication are important.

Observations

I have noticed that how the data is arranged can really change how easy it is to read and understand the information. In the plastic bead activity, the random setup looks messy at first, but when we sort the beads,Rephrase the information becomes much easier to understand.

Rephrase In the design of the L.A.T.C.H information graph, using the ideas of categories and hierarchy makes the organization of information easier to understand. I also saw that things like text size and icons are really important for helping people see what to look at. For example, by changing the font size and colors, you can help the reader look at the information in a specific order.

Findings

This exercise gave me a deep understanding of the importance of data visualization. Whether it's plastic bead statistics or LATCH infographs, the core of them is how to make the information more intuitive and readable. I have found that the LATCH framework provides a powerful way to organize information, especially when dealing with complex data, which can effectively improve the readability and structured expression of information.

This exercise not only improved my understanding of data organization and information visualization, but also made me realize the potential of information design in film research, film and television production and narrative expression. I believe that these skills will play an important role in future learning and creation.