PRIVATE CLIENT
DATA-HEAVY INFOGRAPHIC SERIES
ILLUSTRATION / DATA VISUALIZATION
A technology-focused research team approached Affirma asking for design services that simplified their multi-year road-map outlining innovation in their field. The purpose of this piece was to communicate their progress and aim to secure additional funding for their research. The scope of work included one detailed timeline and one high-level overview infographic.
To achieve this, Affirma created an overview infographic and a detailed timeline infographic to communicate their messaging at different scales depending on the audience.
The design process started microscopic with the content-heavy timeline. Once our team gained a deeper understanding of the research methodology and processes, the design team was able to discuss vision with the client and develop solutions to best communicate their message. We used looping highway systems as a source of inspiration based on the client thinking of their multi-stage road-map as a highway. Our theme was influenced by the otherworldly, dynamic look of long-exposure traffic photography to convey space travel.
Detailed Timeline Infographic
This design pulls its form from an aerial perspective of a looping highway system. Each loop sections off a different era of the timeline. This helps to group the information and make it easier to digest and translate to an overview perspective in the second poster. We’ve also used scale to direct the composition. Era 3 is the largest loop (and the ultimate goal) so it’s the largest on the map and incorporates a subtle flare to attract the eye.
The timeline tracks three categories of information: Audio Formats, Innovations, and Landmarks. Audio Formats are the most important of the three, so they’re highlighted in gold and paired with custom illustrated iconography. Innovations and Landmarks are each assigned their own color and are simplified as they are lower on the hierarchy. The client requested we leave room for an information summary in the lower right corner.
Once the detailed timeline was complete, it was easier for the client to pick which aspects of each era were most important. The scope of work increased—resulting in the development of two posters. Our approach to illustration and data visualization shifted based on the subject matter.
Overview Infographic
Once the detailed timeline was complete, it was easier for the client to pick which aspects of each era were most important. This overview highlights three key technological achievements to represent each era of research. The purpose of the overview was to show that, as time progresses, performance increases while size and power usage decreases. Innovations and Landmarks were omitted from this poster in the interest of space.
To simplify this composition and make it easily digestible in 60 seconds or less, our team decided on a clear three-column approach. By dividing the canvas clearly, we were able to represent related information in a familiar way consistently. For this poster, we chose metallics as our accent colors to establish hierarchy. The timeline below follows this structure, and lists each of the Audio Formats that correspond with each era.
This project as a whole was an excellent demonstration of the skills our team is capable of. I worked on a steep learning curve to understand the research and messaging the client was looking to present, and managed to synthesize and streamline that information twice. The end product was widely well-received, and will continue to represent the research team through their next era of innovation.
One of the major challenges of this engagement was that it was constantly evolving. The initial scope of work only included the detailed timeline infographic. As the project progressed, the client’s needs evolved with it. We worked to support the client from both a project management and visual design standpoint to ensure they had an end-product they were proud to present at their presentation.
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