DATA-REMIX

Data is all around us, open to the public for research and exploration; Data-stores enable it to be more open and widely available. How one represents data is the most challenging part, especially as a designer, we have to think about what we choose to show.
Data Visualisation is a transversal discipline which harnesses the immense power of visual communication in order to simply explain, the relationships of meaning, cause and dependency which can be found among abstract masses of information generated by scientific and social processes. Interactive data visualisation moves beyond the display of static graphics to using technology to drill down into charts and graphs for more details, and interactively changing what data you see and how it is processed.

Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge intended to present complex information quickly and clearly. They can improve cognition by utilising graphics to enhance the human visual system’s ability to see patterns and trends. The process of creating infographics can be referred to as data visualisation, information design, or information architecture.

Infographics have been around for many years and recently the increase of a number of easy-to-use, free tools have made the creation of infographics available to a large segment of the population. Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter have also allowed for individual infographics to be spread among many people around the world. Infographics are widely used in this age and time.

Ghost Counties by Jan Willem Tulp

Rip! A Remix Manifesto

This film directed by Brett Gaylor (2008) is an open-source documentary film about exploring the changing concept of copyright and content creation in the digital age. Not only is this a documentary on remix culture but a cinematic argument for the right to use other people’s material in your own creations without being penalised. This film features collaborative remix work from users around the world who are encouraged by Brett himself to upload, remix and reinterpret the actual film on his website through their process called “open source cinema”.

PROCESSING

Processing is a flexible software sketchbook and a language for learning how to code within the context of the visual arts. Free to download and open-source.

Processing was created to give designers and artists a better way to learn how to code and create visual art in a programming environment. It was developed by Casey Reas and Ben Fry who are alumni of the Aesthetics and Computation Group at the MIT Media Lab. Processing builds on the language Java, and gives the instant gratification through visual feedback.

Code Elements

Statements
A set of expressions together create a statement
This is like a sentence
They can define a variable or assign a variable
They can run a function or construct an object
Example: Size(200,200) – runs the size function
Example: int x; Declares a new variable called x Example: x=102; Assigns the value of 102 to x

Code Elements

Syntax Introduced:
● //Comment)
● /* Multiline Comment /* ● “;” Statement terminator ● “,” Comma
● print(), println()

Code Elements

Functions allow you to:
-Draw shapes
-Set colours
-Calculate numbers

Code Elements

Expressions
Software expressions are combinations of operators
These are things like +, * and /
They operate on values to their left or right
An expression always has a value
Example ((3+2)*10) - 1 Value is 49

Draw a line

line (x, y, angle, length)
line (x-axis, y-axis, angle, length)

Workshop

Learning how to work with processing from the beginning
Working with shapes and colour
Working with variables
Working with Conditionals
How to choose and prepare a data set to work with in Processing
Creating a simple data visualisation

My Data

This final experiment using Processing required us to put together any kind of personal data - I decided to make mine about my daily activities which included hobbies and how much time I spent on each one.

I managed to successfully construct the codes for this specific experiment and visualise my data into a circular diagram (shown below).

Making a house

A series of red circles

Migena Sadikaj (w1496271)

Authorship & Interaction Module
MGRA501 Module Level 5
BA (hons) Graphic Communication Design