Comments on: Infographics and my future. http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/ Education, Technology, Productivity. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:36:36 +0000 hourly 1 By: Doug Belshaw http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/comment-page-1/#comment-3521 Doug Belshaw Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:04:08 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-3521 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-3522 Doug Belshaw Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:03:29 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-3522 Great! Thanks Benjamin. :-) Great! Thanks Benjamin. :-)

]]> By: Wiederkehr http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/comment-page-1/#comment-3518 Wiederkehr Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:33:31 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-3518 Hi Doug,<br>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.<br><br>–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: Doug Belshaw http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/comment-page-1/#comment-3514 Doug Belshaw Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:36:45 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-3514 Well that's a relief as I only got a 'C' at GCSE Graphics! (=my worst<br>grade...) Well that's a relief as I only got a 'C' at GCSE Graphics! (=my worst
grade…)

]]> By: Krysia http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/comment-page-1/#comment-3513 Krysia Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:56:16 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-3513 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! <br>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-3511 Doug Belshaw Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:07:31 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-3511 Thanks Krysia - that's really helpful! :-)<br><br>I'm just investigating the area so far and know that my first efforts <br>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-3510 Krysia Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:57:46 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-3510 Hi Doug<br><br>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.<br><br>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...<br><br>Some 'rules' from this book for good design...<br>1. Have a concept, a clear simple message<br>2. Keep it simple, if you don't need it dont put it in<br>3. Speak with one visual voice (eg. make all parts of your image talk to each other/flow)<br>4.Use two typeface families max <br>5. Pick colours on purpose<br>6.Treat the type as image (as if it is just as important, type is also only type if its friendly)<br>7.Be decisive - (Do it on purpose or don't do it at all)<br>8. Create your own images - don't scavange, (make it your own and be original, this takes time tho)<br><br>Um, hope this helps. I love infographics and I love teaching design - really recommend Inkscape, Good Luck!<br><br>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-3509 Doug Belshaw Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:45:55 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-3509 Thanks for the comment, Greg. The reason why I haven't (as yet) go into looking at data from schools is threefold:<br><br>1) Privacy issues (I like to share everything I do)<br>2) Statistical issues (huge databases!)<br>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)<br><br>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: gregcarroll http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/comment-page-1/#comment-3508 gregcarroll Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:50:39 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-3508 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.<br>see here - <a href="http://blog.core-ed.net/greg/2009/04/more-on-data-presentation.html" rel="nofollow">http://blog.core-ed.net/greg/2009/04/more-on-da...</a><br>and particularly here - <a href="http://blog.core-ed.net/greg/2009/01/data-presentation-capturing-the-individual-and-the-collective-using-scatterplotting.html" rel="nofollow">http://blog.core-ed.net/greg/2009/01/data-prese...</a><br><br>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.<br>Anyway would love to do some thinking with you about this one :-)<br>cheers<br>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-da...
and particularly here – http://blog.core-ed.net/greg/2009/01/data-prese...

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

]]> By: andykemp http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/11/14/infographics-and-my-future/comment-page-1/#comment-3507 andykemp Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:49:23 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=3507#comment-3507 I'm sure you will be fine then. It just the number of distorted graphs and<br>statistics I see in the news everyday which just mislead people I am<br>concerned that given the visual impact of infographics they have an even<br>greater potential to mislead if not used carefully! I'm sure you will be fine then. It just the number of distorted graphs and
statistics I see in the news everyday which just mislead people I am
concerned that given the visual impact of infographics they have an even
greater potential to mislead if not used carefully!

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