ORIGINAL
ORIGINAL
REDESIGN
Original
Information design is the way information is presented. While graphic design is about making things look beautiful, information design is about communicating serious information clearly and effectively.
I am definitely not a graphic designer. But clear visual communication has been intrinsic to much of my work. I've taught information design for University of California Berkeley Extension.
ORIGINAL
Courtroom exhibit:
Diagrammed text
This poster takes a 215-word sentence of legalese and breaks it up visually to make it easier for the jury to parse. The essential thrust of the sentence is in the left column, with the details in the right. No words or punctuation are changed or omitted.
Note: Because of the complexity of each case, the attorneys want simple posters crystallizing some critical part of their case that the jury can stare at when they get bored. Attorneys typically hand me a tall stack of legal briefs and leave it to me to discern the essentials of their case to present visually. All names have been changed here.
Courtroom exhibit:
Timeline for corporate law trial
The defense's case largely hinged on when things happened, so I created three timelines: this overall timeline and one each for the two most critical years. In each, the plaintiff's actions are shown in the bottom half, and the defendants' and the corporation's actions are shown in the top half.
Actual size of the poster is 4 ft. x 8 ft.
Note: Because of the complexity of each case, the attorneys want simple posters crystallizing some critical part of their case that the jury can stare at when they get bored. Attorneys typically hand me a tall stack of legal briefs and leave it to me to discern the essentials of their case to present visually. All names have been changed here.
Courtroom exhibit:
Allegation and response for corporate law trial
The defense (my client) had strong responses to each of the plaintiff's many allegations. This is one of a dozen allegation/response posters.
Note: Because of the complexity of each case, the attorneys want simple posters crystallizing some critical part of their case that the jury can stare at when they get bored. Attorneys typically hand me a tall stack of legal briefs and leave it to me to discern the essentials of their case to present visually. All names have been changed here.
Courtroom exhibit:
Real estate fraud
One poster (left half here) shows the plan that the defendant had tricked the plaintiff into agreeing to. The second (right half here) shows what actually happened.
Note: Because of the complexity of each case, the attorneys want simple posters crystallizing some critical part of their case that the jury can stare at when they get bored. Attorneys typically hand me a tall stack of legal briefs and leave it to me to discern the essentials of their case to present visually. All names have been changed here.
Bed & breakfast inn map
This map on a B&B's site had three purposes:
1. to save the innkeeper the trouble of giving directions over the phone ten times a day
2. to get guests to the inn easily no matter which direction they are coming from
3. to work just as well when printed in black and white as in color.
Courtroom exhibit:
Inheritance dispute
This trial hinged largely on whether a man really intended to leave his ranches to his children or to his second wife, Arleen. She argued that he was not competent to make the will that clearly left the ranches to his kids.
Note: Because of the complexity of each case, the attorneys want simple posters crystallizing some critical part of their case that the jury can stare at when they get bored. Attorneys typically hand me a tall stack of legal briefs and leave it to me to discern the essentials of their case to present visually. All names have been changed here.
Courtroom exhibit: Inheritance dispute
Trevor's second wife, Arlene, contested his will, claiming he meant to leave his ranches to her. All other witnesses testified he had told them he wanted to leave the ranches to his kids.
This poster dramatized that mismatch.
Note: Because of the complexity of each case, the attorneys want simple posters crystallizing some critical part of their case that the jury can stare at when they get bored. Attorneys typically hand me a tall stack of legal briefs and leave it to me to discern the essentials of their case to present visually. All names have been changed here.
Shopping center map
Like many You Are Here maps, the old Carlmont Shopping Center map was misoriented to its environment, sending people left when they should go right. Buildings that shoppers perceive as a single unit were shown as separate shapes. And there was no hint of the center's quaint charm.
You Are Here maps typically suffer from two problems: visual noise and a coding system instead of place names. Coding forces you to look back and forth between numbers on the map and a separate directory of place names. My designs try to eliminate both problems, making it easier to find what you're looking for. A directory then becomes an optional extra.
REDESIGN
University map
Like most You Are Here maps, the old map for Notre Dame de Namur University was a recycled architectural drawing. The result was a jangle of useless detail. As meaningful as that detail would be to architects, it was noninformative to visitors trying to find a building.
You Are Here maps typically suffer from two problems: visual noise and a coding system instead of place names. Coding forces you to look back and forth between numbers on the map and a separate directory of place names. My designs try to eliminate both problems, making it easier to find what you're looking for. A directory then becomes an optional extra.
Redesigning a classic
Can a classic be improved? This is a redesign of CJ Minard's graphic of Napoleon's blunder in Russia. Full discussion & full-size images
Health booklet for
4-year-olds
Krames publishes booklets on health topics for doctors to hand to their patients. This 16-page booklet is for parents to read to their very young children who will be having surgery to remove tonsils and/or adenoids.
This was an overhaul of one of Krames' best sellers. The original booklet featured a character named Jimmy the Giant, whom Dr. Lawrence treats while walking around inside his throat.
I changed the concept to an ordinary kid, Benny, who has trouble sleeping and breathing because of tonsil and adenoid problems. In Bennie's dream, Dr. Lawrence borrows Benny's toy spaceship and shrinks himself and it down small enough to fly around inside Benny's throat. His sister Susie comes along to watch.
I came up with the entire story concept, sketched out the initial storyboard in consultation with the visual designer, and wrote all the text and dialogue. It was reviewed by 6 doctors, 2 nurses, and a few parents and kids.
Video to evangelize
user-centered design
I often need to talk to colleagues or clients about why their own opinions and preferences--and mine--are less important than those of their site's users.
I created this 3-minute video, called "Satisfy the Cat, a.k.a. User-Centered-Design," to illustrate the point.
