Due to the functionality of the prototype I was unable to add the following elements without breaking the infographic. However, if possible I would include:
- Animations: a resolved version of the prototype would have the icons moving/floating on the stage, making the visual appearance of the infographic more interactive and making the user feel more inclined to want to touch and move them.
- Hover text: I also would have hover text over the icons, so when the user hovers over the categories the name appears. This gives the user more clarity as to what the icons actually represent.
Final reflection
An information design must be able to bring clarity to complex data without over simplifying data.
An information design must be able to bring clarity to complex data without over simplifying data.
“The notion that data needs to be simplified, boiled down, is a misconception.” (Tufte 1990)
“Clutter and confusion are failure of design, and are not attributes of content.” (Tufte 1990)
Keeping the above statements in mind, my prototype aims to provide clarity to users about Australian expenditure in a way that does not detract value from the data but is easy to understand. I am happy with the final prototype, despite being unable to include the elements above. I think it is a simple yet interactive way to display government and household expenditure, in order to allow users to comprehend and compare the data sets visually.
I would improve the infographic by developing more detailed layers of information for the user to add. This might include a more detailed breakdown of each category and what they include, or a slider to allow the user to view data from different years and compare the changes.
I would improve the infographic by developing more detailed layers of information for the user to add. This might include a more detailed breakdown of each category and what they include, or a slider to allow the user to view data from different years and compare the changes.
