JenniferL_R02

In today's reading we learned about the importance of clarity and legibility. If an infographic is not clear or readable due to noise or some other interference, it is ineffective at presenting its data. We were presented with the rule "1 + 1 = 3" reguarding positive and negative spaces. Negative spaces may be clear of any content but our eyes do see them as part of the space. Negative space that is treated as such usually transforms into the equivalent of fuzzy, static speaker noise for our eyes. We were demonstrated with multiple examples of how this happens and how it can be fixed.

One example that hit home with me was the mentioning of music notation paper. I took piano lessons when I was younger and always noticed legibility differences between different sheet sets. At the time I didn't quite understand what those differences were, but as our reading pointed out, thinner, grayer notation lines make it easier to read music versus lines that are the same color and strength as the notes.

Another great example was the one of the map. One version was black and white and the information got lost in itself. Another version made up of subtle color layers gave the map depth and, in turn, clarity. It was amazing to see how much color really affected the effectiveness of the graphic. But our reading also pointed out that color is only this effective when used correctly. For the colored map, the background called for a lighter, tan color that resembled earth. It brought the landmass to the front of view, while a light blue pulled bodies of water closer to the background. If the ground would have been left white, I think it would have been perceived as negative space and the colors that overlapped it would be almost too bold or loud. The chapter agreed: "...only on a quiet background can a colorful theme be constructed." This was true for the map, but we were also directed to look at small uses of color. In the example that portrayed traffic guard signals, we were again introduced to a black and white copy along with a redrawing. In this redrawing, small detailed lines that were unnecessary and confusing were eliminated and replaced with color. The arrows became red and the traffic wands a bold yellow. It was a subtle change but a valuable one in that it simplified the image but accentuated the most important areas in the otherwise black and wise graphic.

We were also presented with multiple examples of grids and how different approaches to them can be better than others. The reading seems to suggest that sometimes negative space in between groups of data in a grid structure is more important than the actual grid itself. Reducing the weight of a grid structure can open up our eyes more to the data rather than the grid, and our brains can understand this setup without bold, constricting lines. The relationship between positive and negatives spaces might demand more attention in an infographic than other forms of art or design, because of its effect on interpreting the data.