InfoVis
In this display, the first map is showing the impact that ASUW has had all over campus. I started with a general campus map and deleted quite a bit to give it a cleaner look and create more focus on the buildings of importance. I wanted to convey this information in a map to show that ASUW quite literally impacts every corner of campus.
The second map isn't the map I'll end up using but it shows the majors that have the highest undergraduate enrollment during Spring 2014. The cicle is bigger, around its respective academic building, based on how many students are enrolled.
Displays that exploit the visual potential of location
Critique #1
The visual representation of the physical spread of ASUW's impacts is helpful and a unique use of map space. The grey cut-outs and general background could stand to be cleaned up. Some of the white walkways could be removed. She is not sure if the red and blue bits fit with the color model. The text looks like that of the color model.
The second map is too busy and needs to be watered down like the first map was. The colors don't match the color model, except for the labels and circles.
Revisions based on this critique
In response to all critic's feedback and personal opinion, I decided to move forward with the map of ASUW impacts on campus. To attempt to simplify the map, I replaced grey and white cut-outs with a solid grey background. To better match my color model (with the replacement of official Lakers colors with official UW colors), I got rid of the red and blue bits.
How I emulated my models:
To keep the same color scheme as my color model, I utilized a grey-violet background and used yellow and purple for buildings. The highlighted areas are purple to stand out from the yellow buildings. This look matches that of my color model, using purple for writing and yellow to highlight, with a grey background. I used the same text as I've been using for captions and labels throughout, from my text model. Additionally, I used a purple underline and white background to highlight captions the way my type model does.
Critique #2
The color scheme really simplifies the map. The encoding of yellow being tied to labels and purple being all other buildings makes it eaier to read. The connector lines also help tie text to its appropriate place on the map. The connector lines may look better as arrows. Lots of awkward cut-outs and chunks of pavement still need to be softened and cleaned up.
A lot of the map isn't used and therefore can be cut out. It may be helpful to edit the colors of this map as with the first map display to increase readability and make the overlays on the map stand out more. There are a lot of details on the map that aren't necessary and distract from just conveying the most popular majors at UW.
Revisions based on this critique
I understand the perspective that arrows are more direct, however, in this implementation, the connector lines are the same color as the buildings they point to, thus arrows would be no different from connector lines. To soften and clean up the awkward cut outs, I eliminated cutouts overall by replacing them with a solid grey background since walkways and paths are irrelevant to the point of the graphic.
First Iteration
Evolution of ASUW Impacts Every Corner of Campus
Second Iteration
Critique #3
Likes the consisteny in the angle of the connector lines and consistent size of boxes. Text could be better centered in the boxes. Additionally, it could help to play around with the roundness of corners of yellow textboxes to match the edges of the map. Lots of un-necessary text from the map still needs to be removed, as well as other irrelevant parts of the map, to give it a cleaner look.
The second map is hard to read and the distinctions between circle sizes is too subtle to tell what order different majors fall into. The concept of showing majors all over campus is interesting though.
Revisions based on this critique
Since roads and walkways are irrelevant to the purpose of the graphic, I eliminated them to de-clutter the graphic. Additionally, I removed all text that didn't pertain to a bubble or a specifically highlighted feature. I also changed the text in the graphic to match my text model.
Critique #3
It is a little odd that the Burke Gillman trail just gets cut off, but he wasn’t sure how to remedy the issue. Also, the color model does not include any white text, making the white texts on buildings out of place. In general, the map looks more straightforward without trails but some buildings need to be added back in to avoid isolating features.
Revisions based on this critique
I revised the text boxes to better match my text model, using a white background, and a purple underline to correlate to the purple building it corresponds to. Additionally, I made the text purple to match the color model's heavy utilization of purple text.
Critique #2
Although this graph is more aesthetically pleasing in its minimalist design, perhaps it is missing some buildings. It appears that several buildings around Drumheller are missing and some of the buildings toward the outskirts are missing their neighboring buildings. These should be added back in, to create more consistency in building density. The graphic matches the text model well but could use a title in the bolder font.
Revisions based on this critique
I added back in the buildings around Drumheller (Bagley, Johnson, etc.) and put some buildings back on the outskirts of campus. I also agree that the graphic needed a title, so I gave it the title "ASUW Impacts Every Corner of Campus" to emphasize the purpose of the image.
Critique #1
While this new version better matches the color model, and is certainly simpler, it may have been oversimplified. She feels that perhaps too many features were omitted and that it seems somewhat empty. Perhaps some things should be added back in.
Revisions based on this critique
I added back in a few buildings and roads, while still patching up the awkward white chunks. I think I've struck a happy median between the bare minimum and all the buildings and roads.