Stringing Cultures Together
Information Design
Information Design
Information Design
Information Design
Information Design
Information Design
Information Design
Information Design
Information Design
Interaction Design/Product Design, Print/Brand Communications
Designer(s)
Julia Paliy
Duration
13 Weeks
Recognitions
This project, “Stringing Cultures Together: Through Music” was created in a third-year university course under the guidance of Professor Zab Hobart, instructing concepts in information design from a narrative perspective. It is comprised of two parts, one static/print and one interactive/digital: an illustrative information design brochure and a UX/UI design-based smartphone application. Both parts of the project incorporate intense colour contrasts and complimentary hues to achieve an exciting, visually pleasing, and informative set of illustrations through which the user is guided by a thoroughly researched series of educational stories about the many histories and cultural uses of guitar. The above video, which is a visual representation and prototype of the interactive element of this project, works through a simple navigation system which allows the user to navigate through the data portrayed in this project across various categories of content. In additon to shared illustrative work and typgraphy within both print-based and interactive components of the project, the interactive application also effectively uses count in order to relate to the user through a modern perspective.
Opening and Closing Covers
Progressing to the 16 panel brochure element of this two part project, the image above displays the opening and closing covers which the user interacts with first. The 16 panels fold into a handheld printed document, with the left compnent representing the front cover, and the right component representing the back cover. The covers are visually compelling, portraying a title, author/designer's name, and a sponsor, using various elements, such as contrast of hues, use of the gradient styles, and silhouetted graphics which are intended to guide the user through the rest of the work, both horizontally and vertically, when opened.
Inside Infographic Spread
Once the brochure is opened, 4 panels are exposed, which are represented in the top most component of this image. The graphic components on the back and front cover guide the user through to the center two panels, which portray the beginning of some "Guitar Fun Facts" which continue through to the bottom of the spread. With the illustration in the center continuing when the panel ends, this invites the user to open the brochure to the bottom 8 panels, which exposes the rest of the data through the center of the spread. Additionally, the graphic illustrations of the front and back covers extend to side set panels portraying geography and time based timelines and graphs using colour and gradient styles. The concept of narrative is present in this situation across the use of continuing elements which forces the user to interact with the work.
Illustrative Infographic Spread
When the user reaches the bottom of the front 8 panels of the brochure, they are compelled to flip the work to the back, where a grand 8 panel illustrative spread displaying various infographic content and data visualization is exposed. This back cover uses playful illustrations, the use of contrast in colour as well as scale within the illustration work and typography of the piece, in order to allow the viewer to create assumptions on importance, hierarchy, and historical context, which is how narrative is portrayed in this scenario. A larger range of information is taken into consideration when designing this back spread, incuding geographical context, historical context, various technical skills and features required to play the instrument at hand, the ways the instrument is used in popular media, key genres, and more. Overall, this illustrative spread functions as a narrative infographic piece while being executed through an illustrative lens in order to reflect on the designer's background, affinity, and passion for the visual and fine arts.
