picture power
Our world has never been simple. It has never just been a matter of black and white equal grey. It has always been a world where there are complex systems and methods that take time to understand and interpret. And with technology becoming starter and smarter and these systems becoming more complex, its amazing that the average person is able to keep up.
So what has allowed us to keep up with the world we are creating? One of the tools has been the invention of information graphics. Information graphics cannot just be thought of as diagrams, because they are so much more than that. They are as innovative as the things they illustrate. They allow us to easily get through life without having to stop for hours on end just to get over one simple step. Information graphics are unique to other types of graphics is the sense that they aren’t just pretty things to look at, they have a much more informational purpose. They turn complex ideas into something that can be easily interpreted and understood. In other words, they make the invisible visible.
There are countless examples of information graphics in our everyday lives. Think of instructions on road signs, icons in computers, instructions diagrams on how to open a can, instruction manuals, maps. All you have to do is stop and think what images in my everyday life visually give me information on something else? Tis amazing to think about the power that these graphics have to mean so much by saying so little.
One of the most history defying information graphics was representation of the London Underground map.
Danielle Cull has written a great paper about its history, design, application and influence. But basically, Harry Beck started to design a much more simple map f the London underground railway map that was at the time very confusing. Influenced by electrical circuits, he came up with a map that less true to geographic location, but much more easier to understand he railway system. It allowed passengers to easier see where they wanted to be and how they could get there. It became a railway map that made way for the creation of our railway maps and other transportation maps that we see today, and not just in London, but also internationally.
Another information graphic concept that has made its stance in the world is the dashed line. I among others overlooked the power of this graphic tool until reading Touch’s article The Dashed Line in Use. This article brings recognition and importance to this simple concept and its “ability to express something three-or four- dimensional in two dimensions”. Its magic is also shown in its many uses. The article collects its many uses into:
The dashed line as hidden geometry- revealing something internal by using the dashed lines to represent the outline of a hidden item.
The dashed line as movement- representing temporary positions/ movements
The dashed line as paths- revealing a path of movement
The dashed line as expectation- where an image will take you, what “action will be followed by another action”
The dashed line as ephemeral material- representing a temporary material such as water, steam etc.
The dashed line as border or seams- representing an invisible border, especially geographically
Even through these examples of dashed line information graphics, it is evident that the power of the information graphic is immense. The London Underground map example further enhances this. Such a power to make a complex notion much simpler or even its ability to completely illuminate words using a few basic images and lines is nothing less than remarkable. It is a form of information that makes our society run smoother. It basically makes life easier to live.
The power of information graphics or images in general should not be underestimated.
It may not be recognized, but never underestimated.