umesh + D + R02

Envisioning information

Layering and separation are tools to enrich the visual display for reducing noise. Many examples are illustrated how it has been successful. The image of IBM copier, with 300 small parts and identifying numbers with color notations clearly shows relationship among information layers. It has visual relationship with proportion and harmony with the idea of presenting the data.

Other simple example is comparison between two maps, what makes the effective and successful map? One map having all the elements contours, rivers, roads, name at the same visual levels with equal texture, equal color which produce dumb illustration and other map with layers of information and separations with distinction in shape color, value, size and use of negative area as informative means plotted with certain system and relation. The latter one strongly communicate its idea what it represent in visually comfortable and smooth way.

Mathematically what i have known is 1+1=2, but reading Josef Albers 1+1=3 or more in visual effect is interesting and convincing in manner. What does this mean in visual design? This is one of the different techniques for layering and separation.

What does layering mean to me in terms of architecture graphic? Architecture training for making construction documents has certain principles of visual graphics. Different lines with varying line thickness have different meanings. For example, taking section of exterior wall, it is made of external finish (cladding stone- 50mm), vapour barrier-1mm, thermal insulation-35mm, water repellent, cmu-150, internal finish (paints). Here the wall is composed of different layers of materials, and to represent in graphics, each material has its own line properties to distinguish from other. The purpose of construction drawing is to make the architect’s idea in reality. It should be user friendly for the construction people. So layers help to separate from one material to others and represent the section of wall in clear sense.

Small multiples show multivariate design options, seek different meanings and solution. It reveals different unseen truth in data presentation.Envisioning information