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Information Design/Exercises

3/2/2025 - 19/2/2025 / Week 1 - Week 3
Janice Marie Eng Chia Hui /0361521
Information Design/Bachelor of Design in Creative Media / Taylor's University 
Information Design/Exercises 

Table of Contents:

  1. Instructions
  2. Lectures
  3. Task
  4. Feedback
  5. Reflection

Instructions


Lectures

Week 1

This week's lecture went through the different types of infographics. These included:
  • List infographic (listing down stuff)
  • Statistical infographic (stats, self-explanatory) 
  • How-to infographics
  • Timeline infographics
  • Comparison infographics 
  • Map of location infographics
  • Flowchart infographics (a combination of different infographics that are listed step by step)
  • Process description infographic 
Extra Reading (Link):
  • Timeline infographic
    • Shows events overtime
    • Important dates are marked with tags, date balloons, illustration or photographs
    • Can be strictly vertical or curved
Example of timeline infographic
  • Processes & How-To's Infographic
    • Much like timeline, but don't focus much on progression of time but on  the actual events
    • Most done top-to-bottom or left-to-right
    • Using numbers to label each step
Example of processes & How-To's infographic
  • Versus or Comparison Infographic 
    • Listing similarities or differences of 2 concepts
    • Help people pick the best product for their needs
    • Best practices:
      • Divide your infographic by half to show 2 options
      • Set 2 options apart by using contrasting colours
      • Add icons or illustrations
Example of Comparison Infographic 
  • Statistical Infographic
    • Puts focus on data.
    • Includes pie charts, bar graphs and other visual representations of data
    • Should only showcase essential data
    • Use subheadings and labels to better understand the data/graphs 
Example of statistical infographic
  • Geographic Infographic 
    • Uses map charts as the focus visual
    • Often used in combination with statistical infographic
Example of Geographical Infographic

Week 2

This week we learned about LATCH. LATCH stands for:
  • L: Location
  • A: Alphabet 
  • T: Time
  • C: Category
  • H: Hierarchy 

Week 3

Miller's Law of Memory
  • Suggests our short-terms memory is limited when it comes to remembering more than 7 information
  • Cluster information into smaller chucks of information
Miller's Law Explained (Youtube Video Notes)
  • Can only remember 7 +- 2 information in our working memory at a time
  • What is working memory: When we actively try to recall sometime (ie, remembering recipe)
  • This 7 information limit can be extended with the help of chunking 
  • Chunking: To bundle information into small chunks
  • Limit may have increased with the introduction of 10 digit phone number (like mine wooo)
  • Always organize elements of information in categories no larger than 9, but preferably 5 chunks
Daily Example of Millers Law
Not too sure if this is Millers Law, but the Netflix Layout where they only show a few TV shows/movies in each section to reduce cognitive load is helpful for me. The way they created personalised categories also helps reduce cognitive load in my opinion.

Week 4

Manuel Lima's 9 Directives Manifesto:
  • Form Follows Function: Do not only focus on the design/aesthetics; you must always start off with a clear question + research.
  • Interactivity is key: Learning is easier when the data is made/organized in such a way that allows people to explore the information themselves.
  • Cite your sources: NO PLAGARISMMM!!!! Make sure you always link your sources.
  • The Power of Narrative: Tell a story to make your data more engaging.
  • Do not glorify aesthetics: Ensure that your information can properly convey its message; do not always focus on looks only.
  • Look for relevancy: Is the point/data important? If its not that do not include or visualise it in.
  • Embrace time: Plan your timeline well; it can help you organize the data and improve your decision-making.
  • Aspire for knowledge: Once you have a solid game plan and research, you can properly visualise the information and make it easy to understand.
  • Avoid Gratuitous Visualizations: Don't use unnesecery visuals, you want to use visuals that helps people understand better, not confuse them.

Week 5

Constructive workflow
  1. Understand what the topic/idea/question is (ie, research)
  2. Construct a strategic plan (important to understand what you want to make):
    • Evaluate data & information
    • Identify pros & cons 
    • Create a content creation plan
    • Understand your outcome
    • Build case studies
  3. Fill in the blank
    • Create empty folders as a structure
    • Fill in each folders with progress
    • Synchronise all working files for each soft ware
  4. Get some ideas & inspiration (find on Pinterest)
  5. Set a perimeter
    • Ideas are limitless
    • Time is a constraint
    • Identify your strengths
    • Reference is just a benchmark
    • Solution is the answer

Task

Exercise 1

To-do list:
  • Identify quantifiable objects (buttons, lego, etc.)
  • Sort them into 4 infographics (sorted, arranged, visually arranged and telling a story)
For this exercise, I chose to use coins. Initially, I had a lot of trouble coming up with something in class. But after heading back home, I managed to come up with something.

My plan was to show a progression of data sorting, starting from really simple to more complex data sorting. All of the infographics made are statistical infographics (except for the telling a story one its a timeline).

Figure 1.1 Arrangement made in class (10/2/25)
Random 
At the start, we were asked to take a picture of the object when it was placed randomly.

Figure 1.2 Random Arrangement of coins (10/2/25)

Sorted
After that, we had to do a sorted display of our coins. I had mistakenly made an arranged layout first instead of a sorted one. In the end, I decided to work backwards from arranged. 

I had created a sorted layout but felt that it had too many details and could be considered arranged at that point. So I made another one with a more simple data sorting arrangement. 

For this infographic, I decided to just sort them by value only (20sen, 10sen, etc.) without caring about the date. 

Figure 1.3 Initial sorted layout (10/2/25)

Figure 1.4 Final Sorted Layout (10/2/25)

Arranged
I had initially made my arranged layout in class. However, the lines were very messy and the words were all over the place. So I decided to recreate the layout again at home but with neater lines. 

For this infographic, I decided to sort it by the value of the coin (20sen, 10sen, etc.) and the date the coined was made (represented with Series 1, 2 and 3 and they are officially called, source)

Figure 1.5 Final Arranged Layout (10/2/25)

Presented Visually
For this layout, I had to explore Pinterest to find some inspiration. I wanted it the layout to incorporate circles as coins are round in shape. I also wanted it to be sorted by its date and value. 

For this layout, I struggled a bit to find a layout that would work. I had drafted and sketched out some layouts beforehand to help me. 

Finally, for the infographic, I decided to sort it with a timeline. This is to show the specific year the coin was made in. Additionally, I sorted the coins by its series as well. This is done by connecting coins of the same series with line. The colour of the line then represents the specific series. Finally, sorted the coins by value as well. 

Figure 1.6 Some of the visual references I used (10/2/25)

Figure 1.7 Sketches (10/2/25)

Figure 1.8 Unused layouts (10/2/25)

Figure 1.9 Final layout for the presented visually infographic (10/2/25)

Telling a story
For this infographic, I decided to make it about my weekly budget. I had a total of RM10.10 worth of coins, and my weekly budget was supposed to be RM10. I decided to tell a story about what my weekly budget is and how I exceeded it this week (T^T).

Figure 1.10 Final layout for telling a story infographic

Exercise 2

To-Do:
  • Identify a topic 
  • Research the topic based on LATCH
  • Make an infographic poster based on the topic and LATCH

Topic Selection

I had a few topics that I wanted to do. Honestly, I wanted to do an anime, but I, I not too sure why I did not do an anime. Instead I decided to explore 3 topics. These topics were:
  • Charlie & the Chocolate factory 
  • Traditional Chinese clothes
  • Endangered animals in Malaysia
I initially wanted to do traditional Chinese clothes throughout the years. But after an extensive research, there was not enough concrete information about them. Additionally, there were very little pictures of the actual clothes (I wanted to use the actual artefact in the poster). So I decide to switch my topic to Endangered Animals in Malaysia.

Attached below is the research I had done for traditional chinese clothing throughout the year but never used.

 
  Traditional Chinese Clothes by Janice Eng

And here is the research done for endangered animals in Malaysia.

 
Endangered Animals by Janice Eng

LATCH-ifying the information

Now it was time to put the information found into a LATCH format. Here is what I had decided to use for each of the letters:
  • Location: Habitat the animals can be found in, Initially wanted to do states they can be found in but I switched to habitat instead. Now that I think about it, I could have left the location as Malaysia.šŸ¤”
  • Alphabet: Did not use.
  • Timeline: When they were declared endangered. 
  • Category: Level of endangerment there are in (ex: critically endangered, extinct, vulnerable). See Figure 2.1 for more information.
  • Hierarchy: Population size of endangered animals left in Malaysia.

Sketches

I started off looking for some visual references. I typed in animal infographic and manage to find some refs.

After that, I made some sketches on how I wanted the layout to be.

I initially wanted to use a map of Malaysia and show where the endanger animals can be found, but I realized that that would mess with the hierarchy of the poster. So in the end I decided to use the last 2 images in Fig 2.2 and visual references and made the poster. 


Figure 2.2 Visual references(21/2/25)

Figure 2.3 Sketches Produced (21/2/25)

Figure 2.4 Final Sketch Used (21/2/25)

Asset Collection

For my poster, I wanted to use actual pictures of the animals so that people can see what they look like in real life. I manage to find some images from a animal wildlife photographers website.
  • Sumatran Rhino (Extinct): Link
  • Malayan Tiger (Critically  Endangered): Link
  • Malayan Tapir (Endangered): Link
  • Banteng (Critically Endangered): Link
  • Bornean Orangutan (critically endangered ): Link
After finding the assets, I placed them in an online BG remover website to obtain their headshots with transparent BG's.

Figure 2.5 Headshots with transparent BG's (21/2/25)

Making the Poster

I was mainly inspired by NatGeo's posters when I was designing the posters. I tried looking for that fonts were used in NatGeo's poster and manage to find it. The fonts I used are listed as below:
After deciding the fonts, I placed all of the text and images down first. I decided to arrange the animals head in a staggered staircase structure to clearly the hierarchy (number of animals left in Malaysia).

I also added a circle that increases in size corresponding to the number of animals left in Malaysia. 

For the category, I colour codded the endangerment level so that it can easily be seen with animal is extinct, which is critically endangered and which is vulnerable. 

Figure 2.6 Final Poster Design (21/2/25)

Final Work

Exercise 1

  1. Random 
  2. Sorted: Statistical infographic about coins sorted by value only.
  3. Arranged: Statistical infographic about coins, sorted by value and date.
  4. Visually presented: Timeline of coins over the years, sorted by value and series.
  5. Telling a story: My weekly budget, represented with coins, and how much I exceeded my weekly budget.
Figure 3.1 Coins in random (10/2/25)

Figure 3.2 Sorted: Coins sorted by value (10/2/25)

Figure 3.3 Arranged: Coins sorted by value and date (10/2/25)

Figure 3.4 Presented Visually: Timeline of coins over the years, sorted by value and series (10/2/25)

Figure 3.5 Telling a story: My weekly budget, shown with coins, and how much I exceeded my budget (10/2/25)

Exercise 2

  1. Sumatran Rhino:
    • Location: Habitat; Vegetated Forest
    • Timeline: Declared extinct in 2019
    • Category: Extinct in Malaysia
    • Hierarchy: 0 left in Malaysia
  2. Malayan Tiger: 
    • Location: Habitat; Tropical Forest
    • Timeline: Declared critically endangered in 2015
    • Category: Critically Endangered
    • Hierarchy: 150 left in Malaysia
  3. Banteng:
    • Location: Habitat; Open Forest
    • Timeline: Declared critically endangered in 2024
    • Category: Critically Endangered
    • Hierarchy: 326 left in Malaysia
  4. Bornean Orangutan
    • Location: Habitat; Swamp
    • Timeline: Declared critically endangered in 2016
    • Category: Critically Endangered
    • Hierarchy: 1500 left in Malaysia
  5. Malayan Tapir
    • Location: Habitat; Forest
    • Timeline: Declared endangered in 1986
    • Category: Endangered
    • Hierarchy: 2499 left in Malaysia
Figure 3.6 Final LATCH Poster (21/2/25)

Feedback 

Week 2:
  • The traditional Chinese clothing idea seem to have more content to be put in a poster. I'd recommend you go for that.

Reflection





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