Our second deliverable of this semester for IXD104 was to create an infographic focusing on raw facts, figures and facts. An infographic is a form of data visualisation which allows these facts and figures to be presented in an exciting and clear way, encouraging the reader to understand the information with greater ease than ready paragraphs of text. Infographics typically feature elements like graphs, diagrams and timelines which contain this information; improving the impact of information on the user as humans are more likely to remember information that has been transcribed into imagery. I have decided that I will create an infographic which depicts key facts and figures related to mankind’s exploration of space from the 20th century to present as I think that I will be able to create really fun and interesting visual elements relating to theme.
Giorgia Lupi is an Italian information design who has worked for a range of companies including IBM, Google and the United Nations; creating innovative infographics and interfaces using exciting methods that range from the digital to even textiles. One project by Lupi I found really successful is the “Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists” (2021). The work depicts infographics explain the background and potential of three real crisis’ scientists fear will be fatal to the human race: rising sea levels as a result of climate change; the mutual assured destruction of the human race caused by nuclear war; and the world’s lack of preparation for deadly diseases and pandemics. I though it was really interesting how Lupi utilised diagrams to create the impression of the disasters her information is describing. For example, inspired by the Doomsday Clock – Lupi uses a spherical bar chart graph in which information expands outwardly – hauntingly reminiscent of the effect of an atomic bombs detonation and fallout and thus, reminding the audience of its deadly potential. The circular shape also calls back to the Doomsday Clock that inspired the project, as each bar of the chart could also be seen as the lines used to indicate minutes/the passing of time on a clock face; enforcing the looming sense of inevitability caused by the threat of nuclear war and the powerlessness felt by the audience to stop it. A similar technique is used in an infographic which highlights the rapidly rising sea levels as Lupi utilises the presentation of information in the form of an area chart. Utilises the fluctuating planes and a blue tones colour palette, the designer successfully creates the impression of an organic, rugged water surface inclining rapidly.
Typography is an important part of my infographic as it will be the primary tool used to convey information for my timeline based data visualisation. I decided to use the typeface Futura because of its historic relevance and styling. The typeface Futura, created by Paul Renner in 1927, was used to inscribe onto the plaque left on the moon by the Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin who were the first men to walk on the moon as a part of the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. The typeface is also sans-serif and its bold, curving letters create the a modern impression which reflects the creator’s goal of creating a “font of the future” and reflects my infographics progression through time, tracking evolution of mankind’s technology. I also thought Futura is a much more fun typeface with softer edges that create a playful personality which I wanted to work in harmony with the animated illustrations I have created – something I concluded other sans-serif typefaces like the neutral and symmetrical Helvetica or Arial do not express. To enforce the consistency of the typeface, ensuring a consistent sense of fluidity through time as the user scrolls, I recreated the iconic NASA logo to ensure that the Futura typeface was used in the infographic’s theme.
(above) Plaque erected on the moons surface in 1969 by the crew of Apollo 11