Information Design Project 1/2:INFOGRAPHIC POSTER
26/05/2025 - /2025 | Week 6 - Week 10
Huang jiaqi 0373820Information Design | Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
Table of Content
Module Information
Lecture
week 4
Manuel Lima’s 9 Directives Manifesto
Manuel Lima’s Information Visualization Manifesto, as published on the blog VisualComplexity.com, provides a working list that can help provide clarity on what Information Visualization through 9 directives, why information visualization differs from information art or infographics.
1. Form Follows Function:
“the purpose should always be centered on the explanation, which in turn leads to insight.” Start with a Question: Your work should always be driven by a query
2. Interactivity is Key:
Allows for investigation and learning through discovery
3. Cite Your Source:
Always disclose where your data originated.
4. The Power of Narrative:
Humans love stories. Elaborate your information into storytelling to make it more interesting and memorable.
5. Do Not Glorify Aesthetics:
“should always be a consequence and never a goal”
6. Look for Relevancy:
Why are you visualizing the information?
7. Embrace Time:
Time is difficult to work with. That’s why time management is one of the key factor to organize and achieve better results for any decision making.
8. Aspire for Knowledge:
“A core ability of Information Visualization is to translate information into knowledge. It’s also to facilitate understanding and aid cognition.”
9. Avoid Gratuitous Visualizations: “should respond as a cognitive filter, an empowered lens of insight, and should never add more noise to the flow”
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| fig1.1 Avoid Gratuitous Visualizations |
Exercises
PART 1: Infographic poster (10%)
INSTRUCTION:
1. Choose 1 infographic poster reference from Internet (Please consult before proceed)
2. Redesign the poster into A4 size. Sketch the idea and process
3. Redesign and simplify the poster based on visual hierarchy & typography
4. Simplify the poster's design based on color, shape & pattern
5. Attach your final poster on E-Portfolio with explanation and reflective writing
PART 2: Minimal animated infographic (10%)
INSTRUCTION:
1. Animate your infographic poster into one static loop animation page
2. Loop duration in between 15-30 second
3. Size: 1080 x 1920 px (Vertical Video) upload to your own Youtube channel
Project
aPoster Reference
Figure 1.1 Poster Refernece
After I have an idea, I will start to produce.
1. Time – Showing the show's major milestones using a clear timeline
I used a vertical timeline to present the key milestones in the development of The Simpsons, making it easy for the viewer to follow the show’s historical progression. Each date is accompanied by a short description and icon for better clarity.
Timeline includes:
1987 – The Simpsons first appeared as shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show
1989 – Debut of the full independent TV series
2007 – Release of The Simpsons Movie
2023 – 34 seasons aired; became one of the longest-running shows in history
2025 – Still ongoing; remains a global cultural icon
This timeline helps viewers quickly grasp the show's evolution over the years.
2. Hierarchy – Separating the main characters from supporting ones
I created a horizontal character bar to show the visual hierarchy of characters. Main characters are highlighted with larger icons and placed at the center, while supporting characters are arranged in smaller size around them.
Main Characters (highlighted visually):
Homero – Lazy but loving father
Marge – Strong and supportive mother
Bart – Mischievous son
Lisa – Smart and idealistic daughter
Maggie – Quiet baby
Supporting Characters (smaller icons):
Moe, Milhouse, Ned Flanders, and others
This structure clearly communicates the roles and importance of each character within the series.
3.Category – Classifying different types of cultural influence the show has had globally
I divided The Simpsons' cultural impact into clear categories, each supported by a simple icon and short explanation.
Example categories:
🌟 Recognition: Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
🌍 Global Reach: Broadcasted in multiple countries, such as Peru
📢 Iconic Phrases: "D’OH!" added to the Oxford Dictionary
🧑🎨 Creator Info: Introduces Matt Groening and the creative background
Organizing content this way allows the viewer to quickly understand how the show has influenced pop culture, media, and language globally.
4.Location – Showing where the story takes place and its connection to the real world
In the location section, I visualized the fictional town of Springfield using a U.S. map, emphasizing its ambiguous but symbolic setting in American culture.
Key points:
Springfield is a fictional town meant to represent a typical American small town
Includes locations from the show that exist in real life (e.g., Peru, Japan)
Uses map icons and illustrations to create visual interest
This section helps viewers understand the show's cultural context and international influence.
The second attempt
Project 2 - Part 2
2. Loop duration is between 15 - 30 seconds.
3. Size: 1080 x 1920 px (vertical video) upload to your own Youtube channel
Feedback
During class, I presented my initial infographic poster draft based on The Simpsons. After reviewing it, Mr. Fauzi gave me several clear and constructive suggestions: the font choice was not uniform, which made the poster look inconsistent; the text size was too small, especially for key content, making it hard to read; and the layout could be improved by moving the characters upward to create better balance and spacing. He even drew a handwritten layout sketch to help me visualize the improved arrangement. After making the first round of adjustments, I showed the poster to him again for further feedback. He mentioned that the text was still too small and not clearly visible, especially when viewed from a distance. Overall, text clarity and visual hierarchy still needed improvement. His repeated comments helped me realize that readability and font consistency are essential in visual design, especially when presenting information to an audience.
Reflection
In this module, we focused on organizing and displaying data through visual storytelling techniques, which allowed me to explore the intersection of design and communication. Throughout the production process, I learned how to research references, analyze the strengths of existing works, and apply those insights to improve my own projects. This experience not only enhanced my design skills but also deepened my understanding of how to create visually compelling and informative content.
One of the biggest challenges I faced was using Adobe After Effects. At first, I was not very familiar with the software and found it quite difficult, which affected my efficiency in completing the animation. However, through self-study and continuous experimentation, I gradually became more comfortable with the tools and learned how to animate visual elements in a meaningful way.
Beyond technical skills, this project also pushed me to think more critically about visual storytelling and information design. I realized that effective communication is not only about aesthetics — it requires a thoughtful balance of imagery, typography, layout, and motion to guide the viewer’s attention and ensure clarity.
Overall, this learning experience has been incredibly valuable for my academic and professional growth. As a creative media student, the ability to visualize and present information dynamically is a key skill that extends far beyond traditional storytelling.
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