The Evolution and Design of a Visualization Project

A discussion of the design process behind Kindred Britain (kindred.stanford.edu), an interactive network visualization and digital humanities project, made with Nicholas Jenkins and Elijah Meeks of Stanford University. The talk highlighted five core elements of the design process: visual structure, navigation structure, interaction, color, and authorship.

1. Scott Murray Assistant Professor, Design University of San Francisco Primary Identity —Full Name Logos University of San Francisco’s primary visual identification uses the university’s full name spelled out. This logo should be used as the first identification where appropriate in all external communications, whether print, web, or electronic materials, and merchandising items. Note: Use the tagline logo with discretion as to context. Do not use the tagline logo if “Change the world from here” has an unintended associated meaning, for instance on a student comedy night poster or a bookstore promotion, in which case use the full name logo without tagline, see next page. The Full Name Logo with Tagline 2-Lines is the recommended identification. Use this version whenever possible. Alternates: Use the Full Name Logo with Tagline 1-Line for applications where space parameters dictates an extreme horizontal format. The Full Name Centered Logo with Tagline is advisable for vertical or square formats. All Full Name Logos are available as 3-color logo— USF Green, USF Yellow, and USF Gray; 2-color logo—USF Green and USF Yellow; or one-color logo—black and white. FULL NAME LOGO WITH TAGLINE 1-LINE FOR EXTREME HORIZONTAL SPACE RESTRICTIONS RECOMMENDED: FULL NAME LOGO WITH TAGLINE 2-LINES PRIMARY LOGO, VARIATIONS: FULL NAME LOGO WITH TAGLINE CENTERED FOR SQUARE FORMAT SPACE RESTRICTIONS The Evolution and Design of a Visualization Project
2. K I N D R E D B R I TA I N kindred.stanford.edu Nicholas Jenkins Associate Professor, English Stanford University Elijah Meeks Digital Humanities Specialist Stanford University
3. Visual Structure
17. Navigation Structure
22. Interaction
34. Color
35. “...avoiding catastrophe becomes the first principle in bringing color to information: Above all, do no harm.” —Edward Tufte, Envisioning Information
36. “Position is everything. Color is difficult.” —Moritz Stefaner
44. Authorship