EMP - Information is beautiful

http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/about/

 

 

David McCandless, a London-based author, writer and designer. I’ve written for The Guardian, Wired and others. I’m into anything strange and interesting.

 

These days he's an independent data journalist and information designer. Passion's of his is visualizing information – facts, data, ideas, subjects, issues, statistics, questions – all with the minimum of words.

He's interested in how designed information can help us understand the world, cut through BS and reveal the hidden connections, patterns and stories underneath. Or if he fails that, it can just look cool! 

'pet-hate is pie charts. Love pie. Hate pie-charts.'

0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false

David McCanless is the author and designer of the book, Information is Beautiful. 

I have been looking at this book for inspiration on how to make statistics graphically beautiful!

 Whilst looking through this book, ideas where inspiring to my mind on how I could approach my mapping project. I thought of more exciting whys I could draw a map, breaking out of the conventional ways. I really loved all the information and how it was displayed but what really caught my imagination was the illustration element. All of these maps had a strong illustration presence! This was brilliant as I won't be shy in telling you that I have been struggling with imagining statistics into illustrations. 

 

I said specifically in my learning agreement that I want to focus my illustrations on the narrative of a journey. I have been look at what different this I could pick out of my new direction with my project, which is geese flying south for winter. I have found that I shouldn't be focusing on that as much, as the statistics could be the narrative. 

Why should a narrative be a straightforward story? I am showing a journey through an exciting medium! This journey should be celebrated... because after all it is an impressive feat. 

Below I have taken a photo of my personal favourite sections of the book that particularly caught my eye. These pages inspired me and will be a great reference for development in my work. 

[[posterous-content:pid___0]][[posterous-content:pid___1]] 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false

 Below I like the way that the statistics are shown in the representation as an image. It is simple and clear; it also discards the need of as much text. As all the imagery is self explanatory in the image. 

[[posterous-content:pid___2]] 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false

Below is the record of famous facial hair. I love the way this information have been displayed, its quirky and simple. The shapes of the facial hair are enough to pin-point the person it’s depicting. 

[[posterous-content:pid___3]]A successful image can be duplicated with block colours to represent a continuous stream of information. Bold colours catch the eyes attention.  [[posterous-content:pid___4]] 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false

Below a strong use of text has been used, but it relates to the subject well. The subject of books that must be read, a typical font has been used that you would normally see in publications, which is usually Georgia. The shape of the text simply represents a thought cloud. 

[[posterous-content:pid___5]] 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false

This information graphic below represents the Internet, I like the way they have made the link of this online integrated global machine with the thought it could look like cells or blood vessels. This link shows the way the Internet is so complex spreads and links. 

[[posterous-content:pid___6]]