Week 10 – Data Visualisation
This week we looked at a range of projects which focussed on visualising data. The ability to present complex information in an easily accessible manner is a very important aspect of the designers toolkit.
The following sites present a number of key projects and practitioners in this field.
The London Underground
Perhaps one of the best examples of information design at work the London Underground Map was created in 1933 by Harry Beck.
The Shape of Song
In the words of the site "What does music look like? The Shape of Song is an attempt to answer this seemingly paradoxical question. The custom software in this work draws musical patterns in the form of translucent arches, allowing viewers to see - literally - the shape of any composition available on the Web. The resulting images reflect the full range of musical forms, from the deep structure of Bach to the crystalline beauty of Philip Glass."
David McCandless
London-based writer, designer and author David McCandless has written for over 30 publications including Wired and The Guardian. His website informationisbeautiful.net platforms a range of work he has created for various sources.
Nicholas Felton
Nicholas Felton spends much of his time thinking about data, charts and our daily routines. He is the author of several personal annual reports that collate countless measurements into a rich collection of graphs and maps reflecting the year’s activities. He is the co-founder of daytum.com, a site for counting and communicating daily data, and regular designer of information graphics for numerous publications. His work has been profiled in publications including the Wall Street Journal, Wired and Creative Review.
The best of the rest
Here is a random collection of other examples of information design and data visualisation that I would urge you to take a look at.
An in-depth look (bordering on the obsessive) look at one mans interpretation of Choose Your Own Adventure books
How Different Groups Spend Their Day
The New York Times Innovation Portfolio
To finish off here are a few sites well worth keeping an eye on.