This project challenged me to do more than simply collect data, but to implement my findings into an easily legible document with graphics.
My data collecting was very straightforward. I tracked two specific groups of datasets based on 1. blessings and 2. acts of self kindness that I committed. For both, I tracked the date, activity that I did, mood rating (scaled 1-5), location, and additional notes with contextual details. This data collection took place over the course of ten days, with three entries per day. I entered these entries manually into a spreadsheet.
Once the data was collected, I separated each activity into a range of categories based on common themes. One of the trends that was most apparent was that my mood was consistently high, with no event dipping below 3. Another trend was that my boyfriend took up a lot of my data entries, which makes sense because he is who I spend the most time with. I tested out a few different types of charts, with differing data categories that would make the most sense for each kind of graph. My goal was to fit as much data in without compromising legibility.
The most interesting route for me was seeing the distribution of time in regard to my activities, because I value the work-life balance very much. As such, I wanted to highlight the time spent in each category, as well as the average mood, because that is another important factor when evaluating satisfaction levels in work-life balance.
I was drawn to the graph that you often see in video games, which maps character statistics. I thought it matched, as I am my own character in my own world. It was a fun way to gamify this assignment.
I had a lot of help from my classmates, who gave me many great ideas on how to expand this initial concept; to fit in more data than I had initially thought I was capable of doing.
I refined this by making the categories themselves fit the proportion in which each was mentioned. I also made the colors more distinct from each other, as the sections before more translucent the less they are mentioned.
The final design incorporates the radar design, while also having elements of a pie chart. It has much more distinct colors, and was paired with a typeface that reminds me of one you might find in a video game.
This project was interesting in that it delved into a more technical side. My own personal style is much more intertwined with graphic design, whereas this project left little room for a more nuanced approach. It was straightforward, which I appreciated. It would have been interesting if I could have incorporated more data points, like location, but I think it would have started to become too busy.