Final

        When deciding what to do with our group visual we had
trouble coming up with an idea at first. We wanted to make something
that would showcase what we learned this year, but we did not want to
make a 3D replication of any of the maps we did this year because we
did not feel it was original enough. As our group walked around the
craft isle of the store, we decided to look at the kids games for
inspiration. We saw an array of bright colors, characters, symbols,
and numbers. We threw a few ideas in the air, including a dart board
and 'the price is right' game, until one of us saw the game Yahtzee on
the shelf. We then decided we would make a giant dice and turn our
presentation into something fun rather than just a lecture.
       As we started to build the giant dice, we discussed how we would
incorporate what we have learned into our presentation while rolling
the dice and landing on numbers 1-6. We discussed dual coding, and how
we should use symbols as well as words to explain to the class what we
have learned. We finally came to the conclusion that we would make a
colorful poster with the numbers 1-6 to go along with the dice, and as
we roll the dice we will select whatever image is behind the
corresponding number on our poster, and explain it to the class.
       When putting together our presentation we used color, symbols, and
numbers, along with a little bit of talking aloud to help the class
dig into their long term memories. We hope that with our presentation,
the class will be able to recall what they learned about each of the
maps that we select, and that we will decrease the cognitive load with
our simple visual. By using "the least ink" possible, our message will
come through clearly, and our fellow students brain's will not be
cluttered with information and confusion during our presentation. In
the end, we realized that our visual is pretty simple. However, we
feel that being clear and to the point demonstrates everything we've
learned this year.
When creating the final project, our group brained stormed together in order to create something in which we could teach everything we have learned. Overall when reviewing what I learned this semester in the course I realized that in this particular class I learned more than in others. I was shocked in the amount of different graphs and charts that I learned to create. I feel that this class not only will help me with future public relation courses and communication classes but also with daily life skills. I am glad that I chose to take this class as an elective and it will help me in future classes and also the working indursty one day.

multivariate display

When creating my multivariate display I looked around the room for inspiration. Since I live with three other roommates and we are college kids take out food is often ordered a lot. Everyone in our room has their own favorite spot and type of pizza in which they enjoyed. I decided to interview my three roommates on what their favorite Bristol, RI pizza place was and what sort of pizzas they ordered. After interviewing my roommates, I took the information in which I received from them and continued to investigate the price of pizza compared to the three spots. I wanted to create a chart to compare price of the same type of pizza offered from local Bristol Pizza spots. Simple pizza such as the cheese was found to be cheaper than specialty pizzas such as BBQ Chicken and Buffalo Chicken. The prices I realized after creating the chart were similar however some were lower than others. No place was incredibly cheaper than another. In the end it comes down to a person taste on what is their favorite pizza spot and not so much the price. However, there is a price difference between spots. If I had more time I would try to gather even more information and compare the spots across their entire menus. Overall I am pleased in the way the project came out and even printed out the graph and placed in on the fridge for my roommates to view before next time ordering pizza.  

Story Telling

 

The Storyboard in which i created was using the images in which I recieved for the assignment and than in my head i drew out a story based around the images. The first story I came up with was based upon a soccer sceen and a man praying. I tried to relate the two by having the man prey for his son to perfom well during the soccer game. I used the image of the prayer man to start the story. As the story built the other image were of boys in a attempt to block a soccer penanlty kick. The team was unsucessful in blocking the shot and loss to a girls soccer team. After coming up with the idea and playing around with it in my sketch book I googled searched images that would connect the story and have it make sense. I am pleased in the way the story came out. I had diffiuclty finding the exact images in which I imagained in my head and how the story would go. However, i was able to find images in which helped the story make sense and connect the two images in which were assigned. Overall, I am pleased in the way the story came out. 

My second story I created was to only use one image and create a story around it. The image I chose was of the girl in the lemon orchard. The reasoning for choosing this was because my mother grew up on a lemon farm and I go to the farm to visit my grandparents. The story in which I created was actually a true story. One time on the farm I went and picked a bucket full of lemons. We left the next day and went back to San Diego with the bucket of lemons in the back of the car. Once in San Diego my Mom helped me take the lemons and create lemonade. With the lemonade I sold it at the beach and made 25.00 dollars. I was excited with the amount of money I made at a young age. I wanted to demonstrate my own life experience and create a similar story. However, the image in which i had to use was of a little girl. I framed the idea of the little girl with my own life lessons to create the story of the little girl gathering lemons and setting up a lemonade stand. I am pleased in the way this story came out. 

If I had more time I think I would of tried to Google search a image of the process of converting lemons into lemonade. At first I was confused on how to create stories with the unique pictures in which were assigned. Although with a little thought process and playing around with different story topics I am pleased with the overall outcome of the storyboard.

Charts

 

 The graphs in the above images demonstrate the # of team from the top four districts in college sailing and their appearances at College Coed Nationals. The reasoning for doing a demonstration like this is because up until 2007 there was a set number of teams from the 7 districts that could sail at nationals. The set number was based off of how many teams were in a district. Although this system seemed to be even at the times districts such as the one Roger Williams is in had much better teams compared to other districts. College sailing got rid of the district rule and changed the format to a semi-final and final style format. This allowed for the best teams to be able to compete at Nationals rather than some of the best competing against alright teams who made it to nationals only because they competed in a weak district. The above pie chart shows that over the past 5 years the New England district (NEISA) has had the most amount of teams appear at Nationals. The second best district would be the Middle Atlantic district (MASIA).  The third best district in college sailing would be the South Atlantic (SAISA) with teams of College of Charleston and University of South Florida consistently qualifying for nationals.  The last disrict who seems to not be as competitive as the east coast college districts would be the west coast district Pacific Coast (PCCSC) with Stanford University qualifiying for the nationals over the last 4 years. The reasoning of demonstrating this out is because before the new format Roger Williams was unable to qualify for the National Championship because NEISA was only given 5 spots. Since the change of the format NEISA district in 2010 had 9 schools including Roger Williams qualify for the Nationals. NEISA and MASIA seem to be the two domonating districts with the most amount of team appearances at Nationals. I found this to be useful information because most kids who go to school to sail don't understand how important it is to compete in a competitive district. By having a visual representation a kid looking at colleges would want to consider looking at schools in the NEISA or MASIA districts based upon the amount of schools that appear at Nationals.

The new format also shows that in the past years when they association capped the number of schools from each district that the best sailing teams were not actually competing at Nationals. Under the new format this allows for the best teams to compete at Nationals. To make it to nationals a school must qualify to go to semi finals and then once at semi finals a school must got top 9. Nationals consist 1 of the top 9 team (schools) from both semi-final events. The total number of teams at nationals is 18. Last nationals 9 teams appeared from the NEISA distict including Roger Williams University. 

Overall I am pleased in the way my two graphs came out. However, if I had more time to do the project over again I would of tried to use Excel more to my advantage. My weak knowledge of the program held me back from creating the best visual possible with a great amount of detail. I am though pleased with the topic in which I chose to demonstrate because I am heavily involved with College Sailing and something like this has never been graphed out before. I think it is an important visual for people to see and understand how competitive the top 2 districts are compared to the rest. Overall, I am pleased with this assignment and will present it to the board at the next NEISA meeting to see if College Sailing organization would like to use the data and information in which I have gathered and visually represented. 

Hopefully my next visual will be of Roger Williams University not only appearning at Nationals but winning it also!!!

Flow Chart

The Flow chart in which I created demonstrates how to buy a book on Amazon. I often don't purchase books on Amazon because I like walking into a book store so I had to research a little bit to figure out the steps and process. I first tried drawing out the flow chart but realized it was difficult to create a even flow of same size arrows and boxes. My second attempt was using powerpoint. In the powerpoint program I found it a little easier to create a flow chart. However, I struggled with font sizes because some boxes contained more information than others. If I had more time to do this project I would of tried to figure out how to make the boxes and fonts the same size with everything looking perfect. I am pleased in the way the overall project turned out. I think a flow chart like this is important because it is helpful to be able to see and understand all the steps. Someone who would benefit from this chart would be my mother who never purchases anything online. A step by step with simple "yes" or "no" would help her in the overall process. If I also had more time I would of tried to create better colors for the chart. However, I feel that Powerpoint does not offer good colors to work with. I enjoyed this process and I would use powerpoint again in creating the chart. 

"When Boats on Opposite Tacks Meet"

The explain graphic in which I was trying to represent was when boats meet on opposite tacks. In sailing there are no stop sign or traffic signals like when driving a car and meeting at a intersection. When sailing there are rules in which boats have to sail by in order for there not to be collisions. In sailing a starboard boat has right away over a port tack boat. The port tack boat must avoid the starboard tack boat. According to rule ten in the racing book, "When boats are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard-tack boat." The graph shows the starboard tack boat holding its course up wind. The port tack boat has two options to avoid the starboard tack boat. Option A the port tack boat can alter its course and take the stern of the starboard tack boat and continue its sail on port. The other option the port tack boat can do is tack (Cross head to wind) and come down to a close-hauled course on starboard tack. The port tack boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible.

The reasoning I chose to demonstrate this is because often times sailing rules can be very difficult to understand and the rule book has no diagrams to explain situations that may occur on the water. The Port/Starboard situation is one that occurs most often in racing. In sailing the color green represents starboard and the color red represents port. I used these colors in the diagram to help someone understand what tack each boat were on. Overall, I am pleased in the way the diagram turned out. If i had more time to do this assignment I would of tried to demonstrate the actual actions in which i boat would have to do in order to avoid the Starboard tack boat. I feel that a sailor understand the situation easily especially with the diagram and one who did not sail could also have a understanding of a boat avoiding contact with another boat and having two options to do so.

Visual Essay

Yummy Pasta

The pasta instructions in which I created were to help someone in creating a dinner dish. I wanted to make sure that the visual representation was easy for one to understand. The level I was trying to teach would be a first time chef. Things in which I thought worked well was the basic steps. I felt that someone could have a good understanding of the process and not get confused. After I created the visual representation of how to make a pasta dish, I asked my roommates if the could follow the steps and understand what I was trying to instruct. All 3 of my roommates understood the overall thought process and idea of how to cook pasta.

If I had more time to do this project again I wish i could created a little key/legend on what you need at the very start. Having a legend I feel would help someone who was going to the store and wondering specifically what they needed for the recipe. I also looking back wish I created one last step and that would be to actually show the final dish of pasta on a plate ready to eat.

Overall though I am happy with the outcome and found this project to be fun and creative. My pasta dish is plain and simple though. Next time maybe I would create a visual representation of how to prepare a dinner for a intermediate cook or possibly expert.

Lawn Chemical Solution

When creating the lawn problem solution I wanted to make sure I created something simplistic but also easily understandable for someone to fallow. The images in which  chose were a insect and a insect with a cross through it. The difference between the two were that one represented insects being present and the one with the cross represented insects not present. To distinguish between dry and wet I used image of rain drops for wet and cactus to represent dry. Lastly I used the sun to show temperatures of above 90 degrees and clouds for temperatures below 90 degrees. I felt when looking at the images without content one could still understand the formula for the lawn. After completing my first graph to the lawn problem I came to the conclusion that there was a lot of information for a person to process especially if it were to be placed on a back of a package. I remembered certain math concepts that simplified large equations. Using what I remembered and the skills that  I have learned in visual communications I used the same images as the first map of directions however changed the set up into a much more simple formula. The end result being the same however I feel the second one would appear easier to understand on the back of a package. I'm happy in the way my formula turned out.

If I had more time to do this project I think  would of tried to come up with a different image to represent dry. If I were to place this on the back of a package I would have created a little legend with the definition of what the image were to represent. This way it would be even more simplistic for the consumer.

Overall  I am pleased with the outcome of my two lawn chemical solution problems. Doing the problem in two different visual forms really helped with the understanding of the cognitive load. Luckily for me my house is built on a steep hill side we we don't have lawn and I do not have to worry about a lawn chemical solution. If though I did have to use this I would probably use B-1. No Bugs, Dry, temperature below 90 degrees and loving perfect San Diego.

Collage

When creating my collage in class i first used magazines in which I enjoy the activities. I used magazines such as Rolling Stones, ESPN, Sailing World, and Men's Journal. Due to the amount of time in which we had to create the collage I quickly went through each magazine and what ever image jumped out at me I would tear out and place it in a pile. I realized after going through all four magazines images that I found appealing were of action and speed. Other Images were of famous musicians,relaxation and partying. Most of the action images also reflected sports that deal with water. I often times enjoy water activities and noticed that in my collage I placed a lot of sailing images and also kite boarding/surfing. Although the collage was put together in a short amount of time it in some ways reflects my life style-action sports, music, drinks, women, and most importantly life. In the very middle of the collage are the words "Go Play" which I often feel is one of the most important things to do in life. The collage reflects being outside having fun and playing. Living life to its fullest is the most important thing. Overall I am very pleased in the way in which my collage turned out and I hope when a person looks at the collage it inspires them to go outside enjoy the water and most importantly just play!!!!

Concept Map

Concept Map Point Loma Surfing
What was I trying to accomplish?
In creating the concept map I wanted to create a map in which a person could use to figure out what is needed and where to surf in Point Loma, CA. I have lived my entire life in Point Loma and have spent many hours in the water and at the beach. I wanted to have a map in which a person who wanted to know where to buy surf gear, spots to surf, and information about the water and its temperature could use and figure out. I also wanted to show off the variety in surf boards in which people could use to go out surfing for different conditions. Surfing was my main focus and the rest came from the concept of surfing in Point Loma.

If I could do something different?

Overall I actually really enjoyed the concept map of surfing in my local neighborhood. If I could however change my concept map I would create one with the concept of surfing all areas in San Diego. The map would then include Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, Del Mar and more beach towns up the coast. I think this would allow people to really have a understanding of the surf culture in San Diego and how many spots and shops there truly are. Since San Diego is located in the capital of the Action Sports industry it plays a large role in the society of SD.

If I had more time??

If I had more time in creating the concept map of Point Loma surfing I would try to add actual images of some of the surf areas and store fronts in which the concept map talks about. I think it would be cool if someone could look at the concept map and if they were to visit Point Loma they would be able to recognize some of the store names, or surf spots such as the OB Pier mentioned in the concept map. My hand drawn images gives the person the idea of ocean but not the actual feeling of Point Loma and surfing.

Overall I am very proud though of the way in which the map came out and the colors and pattern of it. I think if one were to be in Point Loma and wanted to surf this map would help them idenity a way in which to get around and get the proper surf board, gear and spot to surf for that day to enjoy the perfect surf break and ride of their life.

Mind Maps

What I was trying to Achieve?
In creating the mind maps I was trying to focus on sailing. Sailing has been apart of my entire life and I was trying to put all my thoughts down and trying to figure out why I sail and why it makes me happy. The reasoning for this was because over the weekend I performed bad in a sailing event and my coach simply asked me "What makes you happy about sailing?" At that moment I did not have a response. I starred at him with a blank face and told him "Its something I have always done." I decided to mind map everything in sailing in which I have enjoyed in my life. Things I never thought about popped up into my head that related both happiness and sailing. In the end after mind mapping out sailing I realized winning events is not what makes me happy. The entire concept and life style is what I truly enjoy about it. I like the feeling of being on the ocean alone and I enjoy all the people within the sport. 

After mind mapping the overall topic of sailing one of the things that came up was the yacht club in which I grew up at and race for all my life. San Diego Yacht Club has been apart my entire life and most of my childhood activities took place at the club. The up coming problem though is that at age 23 I have to become a member on my own and no longer can use the club as a child of a member. Becoming a member is not only a long process but also is very costly for a young adult. I wanted to mind map everything I enjoy about SDYC and see if it is something in which I continue to want to be apart of.  After mind mapping sailing and my yacht club I have realized the sport makes me happy and that I want to join the club so one day my family can grow up and have the same experience and opportunity  in which I did.


Problems in which I had when creating the mind map was that the drawing of certain important images I found difficult. I also had problems with using sharpie first. If i were able to do my mind maps again I would of first used pencil so that way when I created a mistake I could fix it instead of having to start all over.

If I had more time to complete this assignment or do something different I would have tried to use better choice of colors to represent the more important thoughts going on through my head. I felt my color choice was off on a few key words so they don't stand out as much as I wish they did. However, in the end this assignment helped me solve the question in which my coach asked me over the weekend when competing at MIT, in Boston which was, "What about sailing makes me happy?"