Data-driven Graphic Design: Creative Coding for Visual Communication (Required Reading Range) by Andrew Richardson

Author:Andrew Richardson [Richardson, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781474259774
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2017-07-05T16:00:00+00:00

4.14 Wordle Cloud

A “Wordle” is an example of a “word cloud,” which visualizes the relative frequency of words in a piece of text. This example shows the occurrences of words within this chapter. The Wordle visualizer is available at www.wordle.net.

EXEMPLAR

Stephan Thiel: Understanding Shakespeare

The Understanding Shakespeare project is a good example of data being used to visually inform the content of a piece of text, changing the way it is read and understood. The project, completed as a graduate project by then interface design student Stephan Thiel, explores and examines the works of Shakespeare. Thiel uses programming to extract and graphically represent specific pieces of information found within the text. By using code to re-visualize parts of Shakespeare’s plays, the project reveals previously hidden elements of underlying narrative within the text and opens up new ways to read the work. The project uses programming tools to analyze the plays in five distinct ways, producing for each one a set of images that graphically summarize key elements found with each of the narratives, thus representing this imposing body of work in a succinct and visually striking format.

Programming functions are used to select and show frequently used words for the characters in each play; sentences that summarize speeches; instances of statements beginning with personal pronouns, such as I, me, we, and so on; stage directions to indicate dramatic entrances and exits; and popular elements of each play, according to Google searches. The outcome in each case graphically presents an overview of the play. For each data search, a set of large-scale prints is produced, allowing viewers to get a broad visual overview of the patterns and rhythms within the dramatic structure of each play. All the information is summarized and represented in book format.

Understanding Shakespeare is a great example of visual storytelling in which programming methods have been creatively applied to the field of graphical communication. The designer has used and applied data in a thoughtful and meaningful way, applying the capability of code to extract specific words and phrases to create a visual, design-led outcome. The final results are a strong set of images that provide a fresh visual approach to an old and familiar text.

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