Gather data on your day-to-day life. This may include places visited, modes of transportation, exercise, purchases, time allotment, foods, bever- ages, sleep, social interactions (in person or online), etc. Focus your data collection on one general topic so you can get as detailed as pos- sible. Ideally, you will have more data than you will actually use — so if in doubt, collect more. It is important that you collect quantifiable data (numeric values), rather than qualifiable (e.g. good vs. bad). The following are suggested topics:

• The relationships between you and your family and/or friends (closeness, communcation, distance, etc.)
• Food and/or beverage consumption over a period of time between 3 and 7 days.
• Modes of transportation over a period of time between 3 and 7 days (types, distance, destinations, etc.) You must visualize at least two variables along one fixed organizing referent (time, space, etc). Do sketches to determine the best way to visualize your information. Your goal is to make an infographic that is clear, informative, and engaging. Be creative; a giant pie chart or line graph will not be acceptable.

typography

Your focus should be on the visuals, not the text. Where text is needed, limit yourself to two typefaces. Do not choose fonts that are overly decorative (handwriting fonts, cursive fonts, etc.); stick to classic fonts.

format & deliverable

You may use any media that you find appropriate for your infographic. The project will be 11x17" (tabloid), 300 dpi. Submit your project as a PDF on Blackboard (not an INDD or AI file).

tips

• Consider using several layers or aspects to your data, creating smaller infographics that are subordinate.
• You can copy and paste charts from Excel into Illustrator, keeping them in vector format. (To re-iterate, though, your project should not be a series of basic charts that could have been created in Excel.)
• Push yourself to represent your data in new, experimental, and unexpected ways through sketching. Do not begin working on the computer until you have thoroughly explored the project in your sketchbook, and do not hesitate to return to sketching if you get stuck on the computer.