Information Design: Project 1 & 2

20.02.2024 - 10.03.2024 (Week 3 - Week 5)

Sorcha Griselda / 0353056 

Information Design / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Project 1 | Instructable Infographics Poster

Project 2 | Animated Infographics

---

INSTRUCTIONS

---

Project 1 | Instructable Infographics Poster

For the first assignment, we had to dive into a Pasta Grannies video and transform the preparation and cooking steps into an easy-to-follow poster. The goal was to capture the unique essence of each grandma and her special dish through the storytelling of the poster. I aimed to make the instructions clear and engaging, simplifying the content and presenting it visually to inform the audience effectively.

Requirements

• Practical : Illustration software, animation software consisting of graph/charts/diagrams and animation principles
• Theoretical : Information type, device, principles (LATCH), aesthetics 

Process

1. Choosing video

2. Breaking down the recipe

Recipe

For the homemade olives (1 year marination):

• Large quantity of salt
• White wine
• 60g of rock salt for each kg of olives

For the fettuccine:

• Use 2 eggs
• Pinch of salt
• 200g of 00 flour

For the sauce:

• 1kg of fresh tomatoes
• Garlic
• Chilli
• Salt in necessary
• A little sugar
• 300g olives
• Plenty of olive oil.

Instructions

Step 1: Making the Sauce

1. Fries chili pepper and garlic on a hot pan mixed in with olive oil.

2. Remove the flesh of the olives (handful amount).

3. Add the olives and chopped fresh tomatoes on the pan.

Step 2: Making the Dough (Fettuccine)

1. Mix the dry ingredients (200g of 00 flour and pinch of salt).

2. Make a well in the center of the mound large enough for the 2 eggs. Crack the eggs into the well.

3. Beat the egg mixture, and as the mixture thickens, start using your hands to continue mixing the dough.

4. Knead the dough until it is smooth, which will take around 10 minutes.

5. Roll the dough into a smooth ball.

6. Leave the dough to rest (the color darkens a little).

7. Roll the dough out and flat while also keeping the sheet well floured.

8. Leave the dough to rest again as it needs to be dry a little before slicing.

9. Roll the dough out and flat. Trim the end edges to be even, then cut into approximately 6mm wide strips.

10. Then, dump the pasta into boiling salted water for a couple minutes.

11. Drain the pasta. Pour the sauce into the saucepan and mix it with the freshly made fettuccine.

12. Lastly, take the desired amount of pasta and plate them in a pasta bowl.

13. Bon appetit!

3. Wireframe

As I gathered the details of the recipe, I started brainstorming the layout and structure of the instructable infographic poster. This phase included sketching rough wireframes to get a sense of how to organize and present the information in the best way possible. Given the complexity of the topic, my goal was to find a balance between clarity and visual attractiveness, making sure the poster would capture people's attention while delivering a visual appealing information.

Fig 1.1 Wireframes' Ideas

4. Sketches

I spent some time sketching out rough layouts and structures for the instructable infographic poster. This process helped me figure out how the information should flow, identify key sections, and establish a visual hierarchy. It was crucial in deciding which points of information should stand out the most and be prominently featured in the final design.

Fig 2.1 Rough Sketches' Ideas

Fig 2.2 Designing Process of Project 1

Fig 2.3  Instructable Infographic Poster | First Attempt 

5. Final Outcome

Fig 3.3 Instructable Infographic Poster | Final Outcome

---

Project 2 | Animated Infographic

For the second assignment, we were asked to use the assets from Project 1 into a 60-second motion graphic. Before diving into the animation process using After Effects, I made the choice to convert the visual elements required for the steps and ingredients into vectors. To simplify the animation of kneading the dough, I opted for a frame-by-frame approach. As a result, I created vector versions of several distinct frames illustrating the cooking process.

Fig 4.1 First draft of vectorized elements | Cooking process

Next, I organized the various elements for different scenes into separate layers. These allows me to easily animate the elements as I am able to move each specific assets.

Fig 4.2 More draft of vectorized elements | Ingredients & Kitchenwares

I brought the vectorized elements into After Effects. Using scale, position, and opacity keyframes, I animated most of the elements. Additionally, I utilized the shape tool with position and scale keyframes for transitions between scenes. To enhance the smoothness of the animation, I applied the bounce effect to most animations and used the easy ease technique, a skill I picked up during a class exercise, to achieve the desired bounce effect.

Fig 4.3 Progress of animating text

Fig 4.4 Progress of animating elements | Ingredients

Fig 4.4 Progress of adjusting keyframes

As the animation takes shape, I have also been fine-tuning each scene and transition to ensure a seamless viewing experience. From adjusting timing and pacing to choosing the suitable effects and background music, every detail matters in bringing the Olive Fettuccine recipe to life and capture its aesthetics.

Fig 4.5 Animated Infographic | Final Outcome

---

REFLECTION

During this project, I discovered how to apply fundamental design principles and break down tasks into manageable ones to design both the animation and the poster. I explored various effects and tools of After Effects such as the wave warp in order to achieve fluid motion in the animation. Working on this animation significantly enhanced my proficiency and understanding of After Effects. Regrettably, due to time limitations, I could not achieve the poster outcome I had hoped for since I prioritized the animation. Nevertheless, I am content with the overall result and what I have learned throughout the process.