Information Design - Project 1: Instructable Infographics Poster

20/2/2024 - 27/2/2024 / Week 3 - Week 4
Adriena Tan Yan Zi / 0351236
Information Design / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Project 1: Instructable Infographics Poster



Instructions 


Project 1: Instructable Infographics Poster

Assignment instruction: 
An infographic poster for ONE recipe selected from Pasta Grannies. Study one video, break down, and chunk the preparation and cooking process into an instructable poster. Try to capture each Grandma’s personality and unique dish identity in your poster as part of the narrative structure.

These infographics present complex information quickly and clearly, with symbols charts, and diagrams. With an information graphic, computer scientists, mathematicians, and statisticians develop and communicate concepts using a single symbol to process information. 

You will be required to evaluate what parts of the topic, concept, or idea are most important to tell/demonstrate and ask how you would represent each piece of information best. You will also decide how to graphically represent the most salient facts about your topic, concept, or idea for student learning. This includes the finishing outcome which could be a slick animation or even a rough stop motion. 

Theoretical (Information Design Framework) 
  • Information type 
  • Device 
  • Principles (LATCH etc) 
  • Aesthetics i.e: isometric, simplified illustrations
Requirement: You will need to reflect the following (assessment criteria): 
Practical - photo editing/illustration software
  • Graphs, charts, and diagrams
  • Poster size: 1240 × 1750 pixels or 2048 × 2048 pixels

Collecting information 

    Fig. 1.1 Chosen video from Pasta Grannies    

This is the video that I chosen from the pasta grannies channel to base my infographic on. It's about how Paula that lives in Austria, in an old wooden house and loves making her signature soup canederli. 

    Fig 1.2 Information collected in google docs

Whilst gathering all the recipe, steps and extra information, I did my sketch a few layouts and attach it in the above google docs. After getting a few feedback from sir, he suggested me to go with the third sketch as it is a slightly different sketch. 



Visual Reference 




 Fig 1.3 Visual References from Pinterest 

I started by searching visuals that could potentially inspire the layout of infographic. I found a few with a lot of information and chunked it into smaller categories so they could fit more information in the infographic. Personally, I quite like the layout of most of them but not so much of the colour combnation so i figured i could change it. 



Digitalisation Process 



 Fig 2.1 Illustrating the bowl and Spatula 


Here I'm just searching a porcelain bowl with blue flower patterns that I found it resemble the mixing bowl that Paula's was using in the video. First I was just tracing the shape of the bowl. Then, I used the pencil tool to added further details like the flowers and leaves to get the accuracy. With the bowl done, i moved on with drawing the spatula with the pencil and brush too with a reference photo i found online. 




 Fig 2.2  Illustrating the bread and breadcrumbs

The first element that I drew with reference I found on Pinterest was a bread. I used the the pencil and pen tool for the basic shape of the bread. Further on, I added more texture, shading and strokes with the brush tool. Then, I figured that it would need the bread crumbs so it did it with the pen tool and fill it in with the gradient tool. 




 Fig 2.3 Illustrating the salt shaker

This is the process of me making a salt, then I coloured in once again with the gradient tool.


 Fig 2.4 Aligning the elements

After I made few of my items, I proceed to line them up slanted like the layout of my sketch. At first, I feel it looks fine and that I just have to make sure to items size is consistent 



Fig 2.5 Illustrating the eggs

Next up, I'm simply just tracing an oval shape and once again filled it in with gradient tool. To indication one of the process, I also need to cut the egg shape in 2 using the knife so I could draw the egg white and the egg yolk.




Fig 2.6 Illustrating the pan

Moving on, I'm just drawing the all purpose flour and the pan that I needed for the second step. I have a reference photo for most of the ingredients that I needed to draw cause I couldn't remember what they look like on top of my head. 






Fig 2.7 Illustrating ingredients

Then, I moved on illustrating more ingredients for the broth and the sauteing process, just onions, butter, specks or quote on quote meat. With the same process of pencil, brush and pen tool, I manage to get a satisfying art style. I also used different bush to create different texture. 





Fig 2.8 Illustrating the pot an realigning

I was just illustrating the pot that was used in the video. Imitating roughly using a screenshot from the video. It turned out quite well since I have the oval lid top shape to refer to so I can create the pot angle facing like that. 







Fig 2.7 Illustrating the bowl and canederli

Finally, I moved on to making the main bowl and broth. While making bowl, I also try to imitate the bowl used in the video which is a plain white bowl but after making it I found it is not too appealing so I added texture and a golden colour to the rim to make sure it fits the overall aesthetic more. 







Fig 2.7 Putting in background and aligning items again


After finishing all the elements, I started to arrange them accordingly where I think would be easily digested my the viewers. I did trial and error a lot of times before finally settling on a satisfactory arrangement to place my elements and test. I added the detailed text one by one and also use the perspective and free transform tool to change the perspective of the text. 

Moving on to make the background, initially I wanted to use blue background to indicate that the food suitable for winter. But I found out that the elements I created doesn't match the blue background so I took the inspiration from the wooden house location in the  video, made the background wooden textured. 

Furthermore, I moved on to work on the main title. Like I mentioned previously, sir suggested I can approach the frosty font idea for the main title because it's winter food to share with friends and family. So, I found a suitable font after I went through different option in dafont.com . I did some customization to the main font so it would express the purpose of the title more by adding snow pile and snow flakes. 

As you can see, I decided to illustrated a ragdoll to incorporate one of granny Paula's personality into the poster. I found some visual references on pinterest, then tried to illustrate my own version with the reference. It added an element of crepiness with is the vibe i get looking that her collection of dolls. 


Final Instructable Infographic Poster 

Fig 3.1 Final Poster,jpg

Fig 3.2 Final Poster,pdf


Revised Instructable Infographic Poster 

Fig 3.3 Revised poster.jpg 


Feedback 

Week 4 
General Feedback:
Watch the example animation video that sir has posted in google classroom. Make sure to include data into the video. it's an infographic based animation so it doesn't have to be too complicated. 
Specific Feedback: Change the steps label to the top of each section so that it looks consistent. Could get about 15/16 marks before being revised. Take away the X in the poster as it is a little confusing, can change the adjective to a bunch of parsley and a pinch of salt instead just 1 salt and 1 parsley. 


Reflection 

Initially, this assignment brought me joy as I delved into exploring design options and selecting a recipe that piqued my interest. However, as I progressed, the task became increasingly stressful. Aligning elements and text within the layout proved challenging, particularly when attempting to match their angles with the slanted background. I found myself rearranging elements numerous times, at least 6 or 7, in search of a pleasing alignment that didn't appear distorted.

Despite the difficulties, I persisted in finding a satisfactory alignment for all elements, only to encounter another obstacle. The background I had initially envisioned didn't complement the elements well, appearing out of place. Consequently, I made the decision to switch to a different background.

Upon completion, I sought feedback from my family, including my mother and both sisters, in hopes of identifying areas for improvement. My mother candidly remarked that everything looked cluttered, while one sister suggested adding shadows to create depth and reduce the flat appearance. The other advised against including instructional lines for each element. Unfortunately, I received their feedback too late to implement changes. Therefore, I'm eager to receive feedback from you, sir, before finalizing any decisions on what adjustments to make.

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