MM1121 - INFORMATION DESIGN
Spring 2006
Instructor: Laura Cesari - lacesari@onebox.com


DUE WEEK 4: (2 items)

I) HOMEWORK #3: MUSIC RESEARCH POSTER, ROUGH DRAFT (5pts)
Create a poster charting out the relationships between 100 different musicians or bands. For example, start with 3 favorites, and research each to find who has influenced them. Then research the influences to find their influences, and so forth. You may include any other relationships that you find between musicians, such as collaborations, label affiliations, style, etc. Each relationship should be visually noted in your chart using a key of your own design.

For the Rough Draft:
a) Show at least 20 bands or musicians in your chart.
b) Include a key denoting at least 3 different relationships:
- influences / followers
- same genre or style
- same era or musical movement
- label affiliations
- any other relationships between the musicians (eg. collaborations, friendships, musicians who have gigged together, musicians who have covered each other's songs, etc.).

Recommended Links for Music Research:
allmusic
Artist Direct
Rolling Stone
Live Plasma
MusicMap


II) READING #3: Chapters 3 & 4 (2pts)
Answer questions in writing - please type or write neatly.

1) What is the "squinty eye"? When would you use it?

2) Compare the 4 designs on p.58-60. What tendencies do the engineers, designers, and CEO have about building a site?

3) What kind of information can be found by talking to a company's Marketing Department?

4) How would you determine whether someone would be a good subject for a user research interview?

5) How would you format interview questions to avoid getting "bad information"?

6) What techniques would you use to keep interviews "neutral"?

7) What techniques would you use to keep the interviewee talking and get the most information possible?

8) What is the purpose of a paper prototype test?

9) Imagine that you are starting a company. Create a set of 8 "screening" questions and follow-up questions (like the ones on page 75) that relate to what your company does.

10) Interview 3 people using your screening questions, and record the data.


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WEEKLY OUTLINE:
All homework (HW) is due @ beginning of class the following week.

Week 1:
Introductions
HW: Warning Signs
Reading: Introduction and Chapter 1: Gurus and Rules
Definition: Signs and Symbols
Reference: mycrazyhobby.com - Street Sign Collection
Article: Immigrant Family Freeway Sign
Just for Fun: Custom Sign Generator

Week 2:
InfoGraphics 1
HW: Food Pyramid
Reading: Chapter 2: First Principles
Reference: Edward Tufte, Mark Lombardi

Week 3:
InfoGraphics 2
HW: "Music Poster" rough draft
Reading: Chapters 3 & 4: Balancing Business, Technology and Users
General Reference: Understanding USA, Visual Complexity, GeoHive
Music: Live Plasma, MusicMap

Week 4:
Navigation & User Behaviors
HW: "Music Poster" final version

Week 5:
Organization
Reading/HW: Chapters 5 & 6: Organization Systems & METAdata

Week 6:
META tags & Searchability
Reading/HW: Chapter 7: Personas & Scenarios

Week 7:
Personas & Scenarios
Reading/HW: Chapter 8: Interface Design

Week 8:
Site Mapping
HW: Site Blueprint & Wireframes
Reading: Chapter 9: Documentation

Week 9:
Paper Prototyping
HW: Site Comps
Reading: Chapters 10, 11, 12: Summary

Week 10:
Project Lab
HW: Finish Site Design