Comments on: Infographics and my future. http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/ Education. Technology. Productivity. Fri, 25 May 2012 09:42:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Doug Belshaw http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/comment-page-1/#comment-6244 Doug Belshaw Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:04:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-6244 Oh good, glad you thought it was OK. I suppose I have to start *somewhere*! Oh good, glad you thought it was OK. I suppose I have to start *somewhere*!

]]> By: Doug Belshaw http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/comment-page-1/#comment-6242 Doug Belshaw Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:03:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-6242 Great! Thanks Benjamin. :-) Great! Thanks Benjamin. :-)

]]> By: Wiederkehr http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/comment-page-1/#comment-6241 Wiederkehr Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:33:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-6241 Hi Doug, it's nice to read about your interest in the field of Infographics and thanks for mention as a source of inspiration. Let me know if I can help you out with anything. –Benjamin Hi Doug,
it’s nice to read about your interest in the field of Infographics and thanks for mention as a source of inspiration. Let me know if I can help you out with anything.

–Benjamin

]]> By: sophie http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/comment-page-1/#comment-6239 sophie Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:52:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-6239 Very impressed at your first attempt - did exactly what it said. I've also recently thrown myself into the world of infographics although only as a consumer - have yet to take the plunge as creator... They're incredibly beguiling Very impressed at your first attempt – did exactly what it said. I’ve also recently thrown myself into the world of infographics although only as a consumer – have yet to take the plunge as creator… They’re incredibly beguiling

]]> By: Doug Belshaw http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/comment-page-1/#comment-6238 Doug Belshaw Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:36:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-6238 Well that's a relief as I only got a 'C' at GCSE Graphics! (=my worst grade...) No offence taken. :-) Well that’s a relief as I only got a ‘C’ at GCSE Graphics! (=my worst grade…)

No offence taken. :-)

]]> By: Krysia http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/comment-page-1/#comment-6237 Krysia Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:56:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-6237 Soz, don't want you to think that your graph was weak - was pretty good - nice n clear. Wordles are nice but it's always good to try n be original with your ideas - unique, hand done ideas in infographics where the graphic reflects the info (often in an abstract, subtle manner) always win the day rather than getting a program to do it for you (imo). Altho it does depend how much time u want to spend on it! Hope I haven't offended you, you'd pass Standard Grade Graphics easy! ;-) Soz, don’t want you to think that your graph was weak – was pretty good – nice n clear. Wordles are nice but it’s always good to try n be original with your ideas – unique, hand done ideas in infographics where the graphic reflects the info (often in an abstract, subtle manner) always win the day rather than getting a program to do it for you (imo). Altho it does depend how much time u want to spend on it!
Hope I haven’t offended you, you’d pass Standard Grade Graphics easy! ;-)

]]> By: Doug Belshaw http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/comment-page-1/#comment-6235 Doug Belshaw Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:07:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-6235 Thanks Krysia - that's really helpful! :-) I'm just investigating the area so far and know that my first efforts are fairly weak... Thanks Krysia – that’s really helpful! :-)

I’m just investigating the area so far and know that my first efforts
are fairly weak…

]]> By: Krysia http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/comment-page-1/#comment-6234 Krysia Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:57:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-6234 Hi Doug Interesting post.... moving over to infographics in your career (did I read that right) would be a massive change! It is a facinating area although to be successful in it is quite tough. One of the things missing from your post is the importance of being creative and original - something which programs such as OpenOffice, Powerpoint and Keynote aren't going to give you. I'd recommend the opensource vector program Inkscape to allow you to create your own images rather than using commonly used functions or images. I'd also recommend (if u have the $$ Photoshop and InDesign) although Gimp will is great for photo manipulation and free. Having looked at your practice infographic, it's a pretty good effort although I'd really recommend getting hold of a good graphics book like "Design Elements - A Graphics Style Manual' by Timothy Samara as presenting anything graphically be it information, stats, adverts, leaflets etc etc is a massive area. It is a great book and would show you a lot of graphic rules and how to break them - colour theory, layout, proportion, typography, space and form etc... Some 'rules' from this book for good design... 1. Have a concept, a clear simple message 2. Keep it simple, if you don't need it dont put it in 3. Speak with one visual voice (eg. make all parts of your image talk to each other/flow) 4.Use two typeface families max 5. Pick colours on purpose 6.Treat the type as image (as if it is just as important, type is also only type if its friendly) 7.Be decisive - (Do it on purpose or don't do it at all) 8. Create your own images - don't scavange, (make it your own and be original, this takes time tho) Um, hope this helps. I love infographics and I love teaching design - really recommend Inkscape, Good Luck! Krysia Hi Doug

Interesting post…. moving over to infographics in your career (did I read that right) would be a massive change! It is a facinating area although to be successful in it is quite tough. One of the things missing from your post is the importance of being creative and original – something which programs such as OpenOffice, Powerpoint and Keynote aren’t going to give you. I’d recommend the opensource vector program Inkscape to allow you to create your own images rather than using commonly used functions or images. I’d also recommend (if u have the $$ Photoshop and InDesign) although Gimp will is great for photo manipulation and free.

Having looked at your practice infographic, it’s a pretty good effort although I’d really recommend getting hold of a good graphics book like “Design Elements – A Graphics Style Manual’ by Timothy Samara as presenting anything graphically be it information, stats, adverts, leaflets etc etc is a massive area. It is a great book and would show you a lot of graphic rules and how to break them – colour theory, layout, proportion, typography, space and form etc…

Some ‘rules’ from this book for good design…
1. Have a concept, a clear simple message
2. Keep it simple, if you don’t need it dont put it in
3. Speak with one visual voice (eg. make all parts of your image talk to each other/flow)
4.Use two typeface families max
5. Pick colours on purpose
6.Treat the type as image (as if it is just as important, type is also only type if its friendly)
7.Be decisive – (Do it on purpose or don’t do it at all)
8. Create your own images – don’t scavange, (make it your own and be original, this takes time tho)

Um, hope this helps. I love infographics and I love teaching design – really recommend Inkscape, Good Luck!

Krysia

]]> By: Doug Belshaw http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/comment-page-1/#comment-6233 Doug Belshaw Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:45:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-6233 Thanks for the comment, Greg. The reason why I haven't (as yet) go into looking at data from schools is threefold: 1) Privacy issues (I like to share everything I do) 2) Statistical issues (huge databases!) 3) Reliability issues (as I've mentioned before on this blog, the English 'system' of reporting National Curriculum levels and sublevels every half-term is, to my mind, extremely flawed) I shall look into various systems, however - there's got to be one that does what you want to do! Thanks for the comment, Greg. The reason why I haven’t (as yet) go into looking at data from schools is threefold:

1) Privacy issues (I like to share everything I do)
2) Statistical issues (huge databases!)
3) Reliability issues (as I’ve mentioned before on this blog, the English ‘system’ of reporting National Curriculum levels and sublevels every half-term is, to my mind, extremely flawed)

I shall look into various systems, however – there’s got to be one that does what you want to do!

]]> By: Anonymous http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/comment-page-1/#comment-6232 Anonymous Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:50:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-6232 Good job here Doug. There is an ABSOLUTE niche in creating this sort of thing to represent student achievement. I have spent much of this year trying to convince Excel to produce the representation I want of literacy and numeracy data we collect in our school. see here - http://blog.core-ed.net/greg/2009/04/more-on-data-presentation.html and particularly here - http://blog.core-ed.net/greg/2009/01/data-presentation-capturing-the-individual-and-the-collective-using-scatterplotting.html If you, or anyone you know can help please let me know! The power of well presented data cannot be overemphasised I believe. Graeme Coslett has provided a solution for me that is ALMOST there and I believe from him what is needed is knowledge of visual basic programming in Excel? Excel thinks too much and is over-predicting what we are trying to achieve and thereby destroying the readibility and subsequent usefulness. Anyway would love to do some thinking with you about this one :-) cheers Greg Good job here Doug. There is an ABSOLUTE niche in creating this sort of thing to represent student achievement. I have spent much of this year trying to convince Excel to produce the representation I want of literacy and numeracy data we collect in our school.
see here – http://blog.core-ed.net/greg/2009/04/more-on-data-presentation.html
and particularly here – http://blog.core-ed.net/greg/2009/01/data-presentation-capturing-the-individual-and-the-collective-using-scatterplotting.html

If you, or anyone you know can help please let me know! The power of well presented data cannot be overemphasised I believe. Graeme Coslett has provided a solution for me that is ALMOST there and I believe from him what is needed is knowledge of visual basic programming in Excel? Excel thinks too much and is over-predicting what we are trying to achieve and thereby destroying the readibility and subsequent usefulness.
Anyway would love to do some thinking with you about this one :-)
cheers
Greg

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