Information Design - Back to the Future

:TUTOR: Daniel Echeverri :STUDENT: Abby Yang Shu Fan

19084538D

Self Reflection Report

“Silence, Earthling!

My name is Darth Vader.

I Am An Extraterrestrial from The Planet Vulcan!”

Project Assignment 1

Visual Instruction

The movie scene I chose for the visual instruction is the scene when Marty disguised as "Darth Vader" to threaten his dad, George, to ask Lorraine to the Enchantment Under the Sea dance. Otherwise Marty would be earsed in the future if George and Lorraine didn't met and get married.

In the visual instruction, I was trying to demonstrate the comparison between in the coward George in the original universe and the confident George in the altered universe. The other information also included the introduction of the Fantastic Story magazine and George's novel, "A Match Made in Space".

2

During the design process, the most challenging part for me is to filter the information that is going to present on the infographic. Since I'm a bit greedy, sometimes I couldn't help but trying to stuff everything into the graphic. I tried to make this visual instruction look different than the typical infographic and have more "BTF" touch. Therefore, I experimented to arrange the information in the Fantasic Story Magazine layout. The experiement process was rather interesting, although the result

"Go to ask Lorraine for a date or I will melt your brain!" showed that this approach is not suitable for delivering the information. However, I'm glad that I tried out new stuff that I never did before.

From this assignment, I learned that the delivery of infromation should be the priority of information design. In this design, I put more focus on the visual style and therefore I compromised the least effort of reading. I should bear in this lesseon and be aware of the mistake when doing visual instruction next time.

SD2262 Information Design Self-reflection Report

Chosen Objects/ Characters

Fantastic Story Magazine

A Match Made In Space

George McFly V.S. George Mcfly

At the night "Darth Vader" intruded in George room, the Fantastic Story Magazine was next to George's pillow. At first George was suspicious about "Darth Vader" but he believed in what he saw after he compared "Darth Vader" with the alien on the magazine cover.

After George beat up Biff and rescued Lorraine at the prom night, George built up his confidence and had the courage to pursuit his dream of becoming a SciFi author. He made it in the altered future and “A Match Made in Space” was his first published fiction, inspired by the night he met "Darth Vader".

The change in George is perhaps one of the iconic and classic parts in Back To The Future 1. It is amazing to see how confidence and courage can make such a drastic change in a man.

Drafts and Development

3

“Wait a minute, Doc. Are you telling me you built a Time Machine... out of a DeLorean?”

Project Excercise 1

Visualizing Data

In this exercise, we were not only visualizing the data through chart, but also trying to build up the connection with the movie itself. The connection we found for the speed data chart is the least speed, 88 mph, required for time traveling. By adding this connection to the data, I felt like the bar chart become more than a bar chart but also an instruction that told you which vehicle is applicable for time traveling, which was quite playful and had more BTF touch.

Through this exercise, I realized that information can be more powerful when it has connection or relationship with the readers. For instance, readers especially fans of BTF may found this speed chart more appealing and connected when they read the note "Enjoy your time traveling".

4

SD2262 Information Design Self-reflection Report

Final Outcome

5

“Obviously, the time continuum has been disrupted, creating this new temporal event sequence resulting in this alternate reality!”

CHARACTERS RELATIONSHIP MAP

1955

1985

ORIGINAL 1

2

ORIGINAL

3

1

MR. STRICKLAND

1885

BIFF

3

VER. 1

GEORGE

He lpe d

BIFF VER. 1 11

12

7

CHIEF STRICKLAND

8

S a ve

SEAMUS

d

5

4

6 7

BIFF

DOC

VER. 2

*1: alias Calvin Klein

GEORGE

15 the 20 Gave lmanac a rt o sp

LORRAINE

7

9

8

DOC

BIFF

BIFF

Bea t

Sav

ed

MARTY *2

*2: alias Client Eastwood

Wa rn

at

en

ed

10

Stepfather

BIFF

MARTY DOC

11

MR. STRICKLAND

CLARA

JENNIFER

10

MARTY GEORGE

*1: alias Calvin Klein

CHIEF STRICKLAND

re

Good impression

DOC

9

Th

LORR -AINE

VER. 2 GEORGE

VER. 3

13

DOC

ed

*1

SEAMUS

Saved

MARTY

9

BIFF

BUFFORD

NEEDLES

CLARA

DOC

6

3

ou t

H e lp *1

VER. 2

MR. STRICKLAND

12

ab r ne d Wa future t he

MARTY

BUFFORD

11

LORRAINE

ed

SEAMUS

t

Fell off the cliff and died

VER. 1

Sa ve d Became at last couple

us h

CLARA

MR. STRICKLAND

JENNIFER

LORR -AINE

GEORGE

5

Cr

Cautious

4

TERROR -IST

DOC

on

3

CHIEF STRICKLAND

BUFFORD

10

NEEDLES

MARTY

LORRAINE

Bea

2

4

MR. STRICKLAND

GEORGE

BIFF

ORIGINAL 1

3

2

Arrested

LORR -AINE

VER. 3 GEORGE

12

LORRAINE

13 Ignored

BIFF BIFF

MARTY

DOC

MARTY

NEEDLES

*1

ed

DOC

MARTY

DOC

GEORGE

LORR -AINE

Good impression

JENNIFER

SD2262 Information Design Self-reflection Report

Project Assignment 2

2015

Visualizing Relationship

ORIGINAL 3

4

6

5

7

NEDDLES JENNIFER

DOC

MARTY

GRIFF

Framed

MARTY JR.

Arrested

VER. 1 4

5

6

7

8

JENNIFER

MARTY JR.

NEEDLES

Disguised

MARTY

DOC

MARTY

Overheard GRIFF

BIFF

HOW TO READ

INDEX

New relationship Relationship remained unchanged

UNIVERSE CODE 1

2

Arrested

3

Current point

Numbers indicate the generated order.

Same color represents same universe.

ICON

MEANING

Friends Married Couple Bullied Harrassed Teased Side-eyed Boss Employee Killed Interfered

Originally we planned to label the relationship in terms of protagonists/villans from the aspect of Marty to show the intimacy level between Marty and other characters. However, we found that there were some bugs in the categorization such us vague definition and the measurement was not objective enough.

Hence we decided to visualize the relationship between each character in different universes appeared in the movie.

It was a huge project to visualize and organize the characters relationship in BTF. Everytime time traveling happened, the relationship between each characters would change in certain degree and as a consequence generated a branch uinverse.

Therefore, it is rather trickey to represent the relationship in a single chart and show the cause and effect in a normal chronological order.

The most difficult part for me in this relationship map was how to show the "history" in BTF in the "occurence" order instead of "chronological" order. There were four columns in the inforgraphic categorized by the years. Each relationship map was labeled with number code to show the occurence order in BTF universe.

This arrangement is intended to make a comparison between relationships in the same period but different universe. However, as a result, the reading flow won't be the typical reading experience from left to right. Instead, readers needed to jump through different corners to figure out the complete occurence order. Therefore, the reading experience was not that instinct and extra effort were required.

To imporve the instruction, I refined the number codes by adding the number codes of the previous and the later universe.

By doing so, the information of cause and effect between each universe is more clear with the support of color codes to show the subordination.

From this challenging assignment, I've learnt the importance of grouping to show the relationship between each information especially when the relationship is complex and couldn't be represented in a typical way.

Although this project mademe complain about why Doc invented the time machine to make everything complicated, however overall I had a lot of fun in figuring out the solution and I was glad that I pulled it off at the end.

7

Drafts

8

SD2262 Information Design Self-reflection Report

9

“The time traveling is just too dangerous.

Better that I devote myself to studying the other great mystery of universe.”

"WOMEN."

TIME TRAVELING EVENTS TIMELINE

1885

Marty’s ancestor Seamus warns Marty to control his temper otherwise he would put himself into danger.

However, Marty accepts the challenge from Bufford because he was provoked.

Marty learns to control his temper and beats Bufford at last. When Marty and Doc are ready to travel back to the future, Clara appears. At last Doc decides to stay in 1885 with Clara.

UNIVERSE EVENTS ORDER The colored number codes on the timeline refer to the Characters Relationship Map (top right corner) to look for the event order and the cause and effect of each alternate universe.

1955

1

1 Number Code

TIME TRAVEL INFO

At the prom night, Biff is harrassing Lorraine on the car. George summons his courage to punch Biff to save Lorraine. Afterwards, George and Lorraine fall in love and thank for Marty’s help.

2 ND TIME TRAVEL 1955 4 1985 5 MARTY (1985)

Time Travel Order Depature/ Destination Participated Character(s)

After receiving the sport almanac from the future, Biff cheats on every sport lottery and become rich. He assassinates George and remarry with Lorraine.

Doc (2015) accidently travels back to 1885 when a thunder bolt struck on the time machine while he was launching the machine.

Marty receives the letter from Doc in 1885 telling him no need to travel back to 1885.

Marty goes to ask for Doc’s (1955) help and discovers Doc (2015) was killed in 1885.

2 Doc leave a letter for Marty telling him he’s fine. He saved and fell in love with a teacher, Clara. However, soon later Doc is killed by Bufford.

13 TIME TRAVEL 1885 13 1955 12 TH

MARTY (1985)

3

Marty accidentaly let Lorraine have a crush on him instead of George. Marty needs to make George have a date on prom with Lorraine otherwise Marty will be earased in the future.

2 TIME TRAVEL 1955 4 1985 ND

6 TIME TRAVEL 2015 1955 8 TH

5

MARTY (1985)

BIFF (2015)

9 TIME TRAVEL 1885 11 1955 10

10 TIME TRAVEL 1885 12 1955 10

DOC (2015)

MARTY (1985)

TH

7

TH

Marty leave a warning letter about the terroist in 1985 for Doc before leaving. However, Doc discovers the letter and tear it.

L.A.T.C.H

Time Traveling Events Timeline

10

1985

Doc invents Machine an Marty at Tw However, te up and kill D

Since "time" in BTF is actually looping in certain time point, therefore, it was challenging to show the cuase and effect of each incident. Plus the layout constrain, it was neccessary to subtract the information and at the same time keeping the whole picture complete. When our groupmates and I were organaizing the information, we created seperate timeline for each universe.

In total, there were up to 8 timelines.

Instead of stacking up all timelines, I used the occurence order of time traveling as breakpoint to integrate the 8 timelines into one. Since the timeline started at 1885 yet the first episode started at 1985, therefore I added a strat point instruction to make the timeline more easy to understand. Overall, I think I pulled it off and I'm quite satisfied with the outcome.

STORY START POIN

SD2262 Information Design Self-reflection Report

the Time nd tests it with wins Pine Mall. erroists show Doc.

NT

George become a successful SciFi author and Lorraine became liberal. Biff becomes submissive and works for George.

1 ST TIME TRAVEL 1985 3 1955

4

MARTY (1985) Marty hides in the time machine and launches the engine to try to escape from the terroists. However, he speeded up to 88mph and traveled to the past.

Marty ignores Needle’s provocation and therefore avoids hitting a Rolls Royce.

Jennifer discovers that the fax letter she brought back becomes blank. Later, Doc shows up with Clara and their sons with the time machine he built in 1885. Doc explains that the blank fax letter means the future remains unkowned.

Marty’s warning letter saved Doc’s life because Doc put it back together after he torn it in 1955.

4 TH TIME TRAVEL 1985 5 2015

7

MARTY (1985), DOC (2015), JENNIFER (1985) Future Doc traveled back from 2015 to warn Marty about his son, Marty Jr.’s future.

8TH TIME TRAVEL 1985 9 1955 10 MARTY (1985), DOC (2015) Doc and Marty traveled back to 1955 to intercept the sport almanac.

STORY END POINT

2015

Marty disguises as his son as decoy to refuse Griff. However, Griff is annoyed and chase behind Marty. Marty successfully get rid off Griff and make him be arrested.

3 RD TIME TRAVEL 2015 6 1985

5

Jennifer discovers Marty do not become a musician because his hand was hurt in a car accident that he crashed a Rolls Royce in a car race. Needles is Marty’s supervisor in 2015 and Marty is fired becuase he was provoked by being called chicken and hence did the illegal thing.

5TH TIME TRAVEL 2015 7 1955

8

DOC (2015)

BIFF (2015)

Marty Jr. is arrested because he was tricked by Griff to do shoplifting. Hence, Doc travels back to 1985 to bring Marty here to save his son’s future.

Biff overheard the secret of time machine and the power of sport almanac. He stalked Marty and Doc and traveled back to 1955 with sport almanac after Marty and Doc left the time machine to pick up Jennifer.

Before leaving 2015, Jennifer accidentaly brings the fax letter about Marty’s unemployement back to 1985.

7TH TIME TRAVEL 2015 7 1985

9

MARTY (1985), DOC (2015), JENNIFER (1985)

11

Drafts and Notes

12

SD2262 Information Design Self-reflection Report

13

Final Outcome

14

Movie Infographic A0 Poster

I was overwhelmed by a great sense of achivement after seeing the final version of our movie infographic. It was amazing to see how a movie trilogy be visualized into a 2D flat information.

Looking back to the startpoint, every piece of the information design in the final poster has drastically changed compared with the draft. Throughout the process, my members and I were kept having close discussion to

SD2262 Information Design Self-reflection Report

find out the best solution for the information representaion and I am really proud of all of us that we did it. Apart from the skills and knowledge of information design, the biggest takeaway I've learnt from this class is group

discussion and problem solving.

I really enjoyed the discussion process with my members and tried out different method to find the most suitable solution.

Since information design is for people from different cognitive

background, it is hard to come out an inclusive design just based on a single person. Therefore, the input of teamwork is significant.

15

Layout Development

We divided the A0 poster into 16 A4 size posters to proof read the content.

The method turned out quite efficient.

16

SD2262 Information Design Self-reflection Report

Final printout

Layout is the biggest challenge for us in the final stage. Owing to the size restriction, we need to subtract the relatively trivial information to keep space for the important one

and maintain the visual aesthetic.

No matter in which type of design, the essence of the design is about subtraction instead of addition.

17

“Dr. Brown, I brought this note back from the future and - now it's erased.”

"Of course it's erased!"

"But what does that mean?"

What I've learnt throughout the project BTF Trilogy is a really fascinating and intriguing classic. Throughout the research and information organisation, I watched the movies again and again and discovered more details that I ignored at the first time. Since the setting and logic of BTF are rather complicated, therefore it was painstaking to figure out the cause and effect of the BTF universe and represent the large and complex information in an easy-understanding way. Despite the challenging task, I found out that I have a big improvement in logic and arranging the information.

18

In addition, I learned that it is important and a must to let other read your information design. Although my groupmates and I have the same base of knowledge

about the movies, sometimes we still got confused by each other's design, let alone those who never watch BTF before.

Information design is a really tricky field of design.

How to make the design look visually appealed and at the same time maintain the legibility and readibility is the task for every designer. In the society where people gradually read less text and turn to visual communication, information design plays an crucial role in shaping our cognition and perception to our surrounding. I have great interest in UI/UX design and I hope my knowledge and skills of information learned from this course can bring me further in the future career.

SD2262 Information Design Self-reflection Report

“It means your future hasn't been written yet.

No one's has.

Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one, both of you.”

19