Anna_Knight: 2012

Monday, 26 November 2012

Happiness index (Week 5-6)

For the last project we have been given the freedom to do whatever we want.

Choose a topic, gather the appropriate information, and present an idea of how to show that information in graphic form, either as a static display or an interactive one.

At the moment I'm thinking I will go for Happiness index

I stuck with this topic but found that there are so many avenues I could explore! So after looking at the data from the Data blog and World Values Surveys I decided to look at using 'Polar Grids' to show the data.

These are very basic visuals I'll be continuing to develop this project after the course is finished.

The main grid will compare the yearly average of happiness of individual countries:

You can select a bar on the polar grid one or various for comparisons. When selected more data on that country is displayed below the grid. Currently show in the mock up as bar charts but I'm looking at developing this and would be grateful for any comments and suggestions.

Topics of happiness levels explored for each country are:

Education
Money
Jobs
Area people live in
Relationships
Work
Government
Weather

Still in first draft stage but when this project is completed I see it being a very symbolic visualization (I like that the polar grid is essentially a curved bar chart - like a smile very on topic).

Watch this space!

Development sketches:

Sunday, 25 November 2012

12.3 Million Unemployed (week 4)

INTERACTIVE DESIGN TASK WEEK 4

For this weeks task we had to take a look at unemployment in the US. The Guardian has already produced this visualization with some of the data but is there more questions that need answering. Guardian US unemployment map

I had a few ideas after looking over the data, so many areas that could be explored.

The first design I have produced below lets reader explore larger amounts of data. Still needs some work but this design address more areas than the other two design I explore previously.

I have set up a grid so no matter if everything is selected the grid expands. Reader can choose between line chart or bar chart and when hovered / clicked on a point more detail about that state and topic come up (maybe more options could be given here - lead to map of state and counties - something to develop). Each state has its own colour - and when graphics are produced for them alone different gradients of colour are produced. My main aim for this was to make it visually inviting.

Maps!

I was concerned this was just simply a re-design of the Guardians original take on the data with a few extra bits added in. Also as I used a Choropleth map in my last proposal, I thought it would be best I stop this idea and develop another. But basically similar to last weeks you can click on the drop down to view different variables and have an overview of the US unemployment pattern. If you you want to explore a specific state you simply click on that sate where the drop down menu with give options to look at county unemployment rates, age, race, elections etc... When selected all data will appear below as line/bar chart format.

Proportional symbol map - no to proportion but I thought I would explore using this approach after reading Alberto Cairo's piece on Thematic Maps. With development I think this could work rather well.

With development it would be nice to find a way of combining all the above ideas together. I'll look at doing so this week after feedback.

Sketches and print outs

Data Source:

http://www.bls.gov/gps/

http://bit.ly/STRDQC

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/oct/23/presidential-debates-charts-datasets-10

Thursday, 22 November 2012

Mintel.com banner ideas

Saturday, 17 November 2012

Word Aid Transparency (week 3)

INTERACTIVE DESIGN WEEK 3 TASK

Still needs a lot of work! But I have spent the past few hours mocking this up.

Now that I look at it I can think a million of other ways and can't wait to see all the other students pieces.

I have kept it very simple, my main idea was offer as much as possible with clean presentation. With this I create a bar at the top where the viewer can select which data form they would like to look at.

Some possible visuals below.

Comparison of 2011 and 2012 I found this to be a much cleaner way to represented the 72 names.Scroll down to see the rest of names and you can un-click any you wish.

(the map gradient has not been done to match data - draft pattern)

When finished the map will show which areas of the world offer the most aid. When an area is clicked on a pop up comes out to show which aid organisations are in that area. You can click them explore them further.

Profiles available on each country / organisation. Also the option to
compare to others. If I had more time these in depth seconds could offer more visualizations and I would also like to create a comparison piece comparing a selection of profiles.

Colour will also change depending on the if the profile falls under good or very poor. With the organisation / country and activity part the text falls down when they are clicked (when interactive these will animate to show these have an action)

Development sketches

ANOTHER APPROACH

Using the map to show different data and also having a scroll option to navigate through the sections. Instead of using the map for the viewer to connect with the profiles of organisations (this has a section of it's own anyway) I have change the map to show where the donors and recipients are from.

Introduction to Infographics and Data Visualization

Over the past few weeks I have been taking part in Introduction to Infographics and Data Visualization a free course offered by the Knight Center. The course is being lead by Alberto Cairo who wrote The Functional Art. I have already learnt so much more about Infographics and Data Visualization.

... updates to follow on week 1 and 2