Information Design/Project 1
Natalie Chu Jing Xuan, 0354589
Information Design, Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
- Module Information Booklet (MIB)
- Project 1
- Final Outcomes
- Reflections
Module Information Booklet (MIB)
Project 1
In this exercise, my task is to redesign an infographic poster by focusing on visual hierarchy, typography, colour, shape, and pattern. This project consists of two parts:
- Part 1: Redesign a static infographic poster
- Part 2: Create a minimal animated version of the infographic
The goal is to create a visually appealing and effective infographic that conveys information clearly while maintaining a minimal and modern design.
Instruction
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| Fig.2.1 Instruction |
I chose to redesign an infographic on preventing chronic diseases from Pinterest.
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| Fig.2.2 Initial Poster |
Chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension are leading causes of health complications worldwide. Many of these conditions can be prevented through simple lifestyle changes, but the information is often presented in a text-heavy or unappealing way. My objective was to create a clean and engaging infographic that makes these preventive habits easy to understand.
The original infographic contained valuable information, but several design and content issues made it less effective. Some key issues included:
- Weak Visual Hierarchy: Important details did not stand out, and there was no clear flow of information.
- Ineffective Color Scheme: The colors did not complement each other well and did not enhance readability.
- Inconsistent Design Elements: The icons were not chosen properly, making the infographic appear unpolished.
- Unclear Messaging: Some phrases, such as "Moderate that drink," were vague and did not convey the intended meaning effectively.
Part 1: Infographic Poster
1. Sketch
Before designing, sketched a draft to plan out the layout and structure.
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| Fig.3.1 Sketch |
2. Colour Palette
I chose a modern and health-related colour palette:
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| Fig.3.2 Initial Colour Palette |
- Off White (#FFFEF8) - Used for background.
- Soft Coral (#F26F63) – Used for the title and icons.
- Sky Blue (#74BDE6) - Used for lines and circles.
- Blue (#1B87C9) - Used for subheadings and some icons.
- Dark Blue-Grey (#4B6473) - Used for description text.
3. Refining Content and Messaging
I revised unclear phrases to ensure that each point was easy to understand. For example: "Moderate that drink" was changed to "Limit alcohol intake" to make the message clearer.
4. Visual Hierarchy and Typography
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| Fig.3.4 Initial Poster(left) vs New layout(right) |
Fig.3.2 is a screenshot of my initial poster and a rough digital sketch in Adobe Illustrator to showcase the transformation. The new layout ensures that key information stands out while maintaining a clean and organized structure.
I selected Futura Bold for the title to create a strong first impression and Radio Canada Big SemiBold for the subheadings to ensure a clear structure. For body text, I used Lato Regular, which is easy to read and complements the other fonts.
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| Fig.3.5 Final Draft with icons |
5. Consultation & Refinements
I consulted with Mr.Fauzi during an online class to get feedback on my design. He mentioned that my refinements to the information were effective, but he suggested increasing the subheading sizes since there was extra space and the icons appeared larger than the subheadings. Besides that, he also recommended changing the background colour from off-white to another shade, as some people might perceive it as plain white and assume the design was incomplete.
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| Fig.3.6 Refinements |
6. Final Outcome for Part 1
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| Fig.3.7 Part 1 Final Outcome |
Part 2: Minimal Animated Infographic
For the second part of this project, I transformed my static infographic into a 15-30 second looping animation. The purpose of this animation was to make the information more engaging while maintaining a clean and minimal design. I wanted a simple yet effective animation, I used Canva to create the motion graphics. I used wipe effects for the heart pulse and lines; Rotate effects for the needle of the weighting scale; Smooth sliding effects for the bike from left to right; Flicker effects for the x-mark, cigarette smoke, and lightning on the head; Baseline effect for the wine; and Breathe effect for the good sign.
To ensure the video loops smoothly, I duplicated the animated frames and adjusted the timing so that the transition between the last and first frame feels natural.
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| Fig.4.1 Progress |
Initially, some animations felt too fast, making it difficult to read the information. I adjusted the timing so that each section appears long enough for readability. The next attempt had a slight pause before the loop restarted, so I refined the transitions to make the loop continuous.
| Fig.4.2 Final Outcome |
Final Outcomes
Part 1 - Infographic Poster:
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| Fig.5.1 Part 1 Final Outcome |
Part 2 - Minimal Animated Infographic:
Youtube link: https://youtube.com/shorts/yJ-bN_iS44U?feature=share
Reflections
This project allowed me to explore both static infographic design and motion graphics, reinforcing the importance of visual hierarchy, typography, and colour theory in effectively presenting information. Through the process of redesigning and animating an infographic, I encountered various challenges that helped me refine my design approach.
One of the biggest challenges in redesigning the infographic was achieving a balance between minimalism and clarity. The original infographic had useful information but lacked proper hierarchy, effective typography, and a cohesive colour scheme. Through multiple refinements, I improved the layout, enhanced readability, and ensured a structured flow of information.
I learned that hierarchy plays a crucial role in organizing content. Initially, my subheadings appeared too small compared to the icons, making the structure feel unbalanced. By increasing their size, I created a clearer separation between sections, improving the overall readability. Additionally, colour choice can influence perception more than expected. My initial background colour was an off-white shade, but after consultation, I realized that some people might mistake it for a plain white background, giving the impression of an unfinished design. Changing it to a more intentional shade helped solve this issue. Lastly, typography plays a significant role in readability. Choosing the right fonts and adjusting their sizes helped establish a clean and modern look while ensuring the text was easy to read.
Part 2: Minimal Animated Infographic
Animating the infographic added a new layer of engagement, but it also came with technical challenges. I had to ensure the animation was not only visually appealing but also smooth and readable. The biggest difficulty was creating a seamless loop and adjusting the animation speed so that the information remained clear.
One key takeaway from this process was that less is more when it comes to animation. Keeping the transitions simple improved the clarity of the information. Additionally, timing is crucial in animation, so I had to adjust the animation speed carefully to maintain readability. Finally, looping the animation smoothly required refinements. My first attempt had a noticeable pause at the end, which made the transition feel abrupt. After tweaking the transition points, I achieved a smoother and more natural looping effect.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this project reinforced how design and motion graphics work together to enhance communication. A well-designed static infographic is effective on its own, but animation can further elevate engagement and accessibility. By going through the entire process: from research and sketching to designing, refining, and animating, I was able to develop a more structured workflow and strengthen my understanding of visual communication principles.
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