LESSON 7

At a quick glance, what do you see in this poster?

What can you say about the design?
Since the advent of minimalist design, we have seen many infographics similar to the one above
in every area of our society. From  printed  posters to websites, and even in campaign ads,
infographics and graphic organizers are prevalent. But no matter what the medium is, they all
represent information in a more eye-catching manner than full-text reports. In this lesson, you will
learn the various things you need to consider when making effective infographics.
Before discussing this in depth, let us first look at the difference between graphic design and
information design.
Graphic Design versus Information
Design
Graphic  design  is  mostly  concerned  with elements  of   design  such   as typography, color,
images, and use of space. On the other hand, information design is the effective presentation of
information using design elements and techniques.
The absence of  proper  planning  and research  in   the   development   of information
disseminated via images may cause communication problems.

What Is an Infographic?
The representation of data using colors, shapes, lines, and other visual elements is called data
visualization. Through data visualization, information overload caused  by  a  mass of 
disorganized  information can be avoided. Charts and graphs were the most common methods of
data visualization in the past, but nowadays, it serves as but a part of a more comprehensive way
of presenting not only data but other kinds of relevant information. This visualization is called an
information graphic, or simply, an infographic.
Studies have shown that 65% of individuals are visual learners. Most of the youth today learn
more through visual interpretation and analysis. The brain processes visual information 60 times
faster than it does information delivered in other forms. The environment in which they conduct
their daily activities and the  media  they  frequently  engage  with exposes them to information,
many of which come in the form of infographics.
This trend in visual communication is a challenge for all graphic design representation.

Elements of an Effective Infographic

Look at the previous image. Here, the viewer can easily visualize the different elements that
comprise a  good infographic. Little explanation   is needed to fully understand the image.

Things to Consider When Making Infographics

 A creative design needs careful planning and proper research.
 Explore possible areas where you can gather data, then consolidate into meaningful
information for the viewers. Keep it simple and direct to the point to lessen the effort put
into reading.
 Column charts are used to show changes or progress over time.
 Pie charts are used to show small sets of numerical data in proportions of a whole figure.
 Line graphs are used for data that adjust constantly over a period of time.
 A doughnut chart is essentially similar to a pie chart but can contain more data than the
latter and can therefore have multiple rings.
 A bar chart is essentially similar to a column chart, but instead of displaying data
vertically, it orients data horizontally.

Create Infographics Using

Piktochart
 If you are already familiar with image authoring tools, you can easily create your own
infographics. If not, there are tools that are freely available for you to use to create infographics.
One example is Piktochart. It is an easy- to-use web-based infographic maker that allows users to
create professional- grade infographics without the need for extensive experience in graphic
design. Piktochart originated in Malaysia, and besides it being easy to use, almost every template
contains tips that help  in the process of creating infographics for the Web, print, or
presentations  and reports.
An account is necessary to access the services Piktochart provides.

Features
Simplified User Interface - Drag-and-drop and point-and-click actions make Piktochart easier to
use than professional design software. Options are trimmed down to the basics, which include
graphics, background colors or images, and text. Moreover, data can be imported from
external sources when you upload files from your computer or from external accounts such as
Google.
Preset Templates and Graphics - Piktochart offers hundreds of templates crafted by
professionals. Templates are classified according to format, such as for infographics, for
presentations, or for banners, thus  letting you find the appropriate template easily. Thousands of 
images, icons,  and frames are also provided for you to choose from.
High-Resolution Downloads - You can download your work in high resolution. Available file
formats are JPEG, PNG, and PDF.
Professional-grade infographics use various shapes, items, and graphics in order to be effective.
With Piktochart, there are already preset templates available for you to use, and all that is left to
do is customize  the contents based on your needs.

How do we use Piktochart?

Piktochart is a fairly straightforward web application to use. Go to the website, sign up for free,
and choose the template you like. The editor page will then appear.

Use the tabs on the left side to choose the functions and tools that you want to use. Do not forget
to enter an infographic title in the bar above.
After you have finished editing your infographic, you can download the file as an image by
clicking on “File” in the menu bar and choosing “Download as image”. A dialog box will appear. In
the free edition, you can download the file in original or medium size. These sizes are ideal for
uploading  to the Web. For now, choose medium. You  can also choose whether you want a JPEG
file or  a PNG file. Assuming you are using the free version of Piktochart, the infographics that you
make will have a Piktochart watermark on it.

Types of Infographics
  Visual Article - an infographic in which wordy content is made more visual. Best used for
information spread via social media. Has a strong title and lots of content.
 Timeline  -  outlines  events  chronologically.   Can   either   be   simple or complex. Invites
the viewer to go on a historical journey through interesting and relevant content and
design.
 Flowchart - designed to make the viewer answer a  series of  questions  to reach a
particular answer. Often funny and lighthearted, it also works well on social media.
 Cheat Sheet - serves as a quick reference for different kinds of information. Can also be in
the form of a step-by-step process on how to do things.
 Comparison - a visual comparison of two things. Best used  with effective visual
presentation and a large amount of data.
 Numerical - an infographic whose primary content is comprised of numbers, charts,
graphs, or statistical data.
 Photo Infographic - pictures  are  used  to  tell  the  story  or  message of the infographic.
Usually designed in a simple manner using actual photos to answer questions or describe
something.
 Data Visualization - also used for large data, but the focus is on  creative visualization.
Highly dependent on design to be effectively visualized.

Making a Timeline Infographic

History books always have been guilty of information overload for most readers. Though limited
in detail, a timeline infographic can improve the way by which things that happened in the past are
presented. Products, brands, or trends can also be subjects of timeline infographics.
Tips

1. You cannot create infographics without doing research.

2. Telling a great story requires extensive research. Your infographic must include only the
most relevant and interesting information, and that much work may take weeks or months
to do.
3. The longer the timeline period, the more interesting the infographic should be.
4. To make it easy, limit the time period. Keep it concise and direct to the point.
5. Experiment on new color palettes by searching for free color palettes online. You may also
consider using sample objects from Microsoft PowerPoint, for example.
6. Take time to arrange the shapes, banners, ribbons, and arrows in your infographic.
Varying the widths, lengths, or colors of the elements can influence the overall message
being conveyed.
7. Always consider the logical flow of the information you are trying to present. If there is a
need to draw branches, do so.
8. An image-heavy infographic generally depends on illustrations, but photos, when properly
arranged, may produce a better effect depending on the design and subject matter.
 LESSON 8
Captain America: Civil War is one of the more popular Marvel movies. It involved many actors and
actresses who fit in to the character so snugly, they have become the “face” of the superhero
characters themselves. 

Video Production
“As of March 2015, creators filming in YouTube Spaces have produced over 10,000 videos which
have generated over 1 billion views and 70+ million hours of watch time.” (YouTube, 2017)
Previous generations of students  attached  the  files  they  worked  onto an e-mail message, sent
it to their own email address, and voila!  An online backup of the file was available. But as time
passed, file sizes grew tremendously, and at present most  email  services  support  only  up  to
25 megabytes of attachments, while some files — particularly those of images and videos — can
be larger than this. What would you do, if your file is larger than this allowable attachment size?
Videos are undeniably an excellent platform to communicate information to a large audience.
Different sectors of society try to  exploit  this  medium to maximize its potential and purpose.
Businesses use video ads on television and on the Internet to reach consumers in a manner that
promotes brand-retention in the consumers’ minds. This is often done with the use of a  story or 
format that viewers can relate to, and that’s  how views are perpetuated. 
Successful videos often require the services of tenured video production companies to provide
great results, but that doesn’t mean you cannot produce your own quality video. By carefully
studying the following elements and practices, you can also make your own effective and quality
videos.

Elements of a Video/Film
The following are the five categories  that  are critical to effective videos.

Sight – this refers to the visual aspect of a video, whether captured by a camera or animated. Each
frame in a video  is crafted in a certain way to convey a message, mood, or situation.

Sound – this complements the video as sound effects, music, and synchronized  sounds 
(conversations  and  natural  sounds).  There  was  a time when movie productions couldn’t
synchronize the audio with the video so they used live music to complement the film. Sight and
sound are the two elements that basically constitute a video.

Color – creative use of color imparts underlying impressions to a certain scene.

Motion – through movement, filmmakers lead the audience’s attention  on the purpose of each
scene.
Emotion – this refers to the “feels” of the video that allow the audience to  relate  to the video.
This makes the presentation engaging and interesting to its audience.

Stages of Video Production

Whatever video you are making, be it a one-minute promotional video, a vlog, a documentary, or a
film, the stages of video production are usually the same. They are divided into three stages: pre-
production, production, and post production.
Pre-Production
This is the planning stage where all the crucial preparations are done. This is where the vision of
the outcome of the video production is identified and the specifications of the production are
defined. The following are  the things involved in professional pre-production according to Amy
Ferzoco of Catmedia.com (Ferzoco, 2015).

 Project kickoff
 Production schedule
 Script development
 Storyboards
 Graphics concepts
 Location scouting
 Prop and wardrobe identification and preparation
 Post-production preparation

Production
This is where the fun part or the actual shooting of  scenes take  place. This is also the important
part where the director keeps a keen eye on every detail during the shooting, making sure that the
intended scene or message is relayed by the cast with the support of the crew.
Post Production
This is the editing stage where the recorded video and audio footage are assembled in relation to
the script. Music, synchronized sounds, and visual effects are added along with color or audio
correction to suit the requirements of the director and the script.

Storyboarding
Storyboarding is part of the pre-production stage. But what is a storyboard?
A storyboard is the visual representation of your video. It illustrates each important scene that
can be found on your audio-visual presentation (AVP). From the beginning, to the rise of action, to
the  conflict  or  climax, and down to the resolution or end, this is the essential mapping- of-
illustrations step in the pre-production process. This  ensures  there will be no more changes in
the actual video shoot and there’s adherence  to the budget.
But how do we develop the storyboard? Let’s first know the five elements of a story.
Setting
It is the time and location where the story occurred. This may cover a certain period, like an event
from the past and covers the general mood   of the time, such as the gloom of wartime or the thrill
of age of discovery. Some movies are content to show the geographical location of the story.
Character
Character is the personality that moves within the story. It can be a character or the characteristic
of a person, animal, or thing that is followed in the story. It  may embody the qualities, morals,
intellectual,  or emotional qualities of a person which may be expressed in the action  or dialogue.
Within a story, character is comprised two sides—one that exemplifies good or moral
righteousness—the protagonist or  hero, and another that  is often selfish and cruel—the
antagonist. or villain.
Plot 
This is the sequence of events within the story; the logical series of happenings including the
conflict, or stress part, of the story. In a short story, there is only one basic plot so that the reader
can read or view the events in one sitting. The conflict or problem is presented early in the story
and the unexpected event or surprise is part of the events which unfold.
In a plot, every part of a story should be closely related and link to the next unconcluded scene,
as these comprise the order and sequence of the story that will engage and excite the audience.
The plot starts from the beginning of the story, to the rising of actions of=r happenings, to the
problem or conflict/turning point, to the recession or falling action, to  the final resolution and
closing of the story.
Conflict
This is the struggle between two things or people in a story. On the other hand, a character may
struggle not only against another person, but also against the forces of nature, society, or even to
himself.
Theme
 It is the central point or belief of the story. It is the main idea being revealed or interpreted in the
story.

Storyboard Template

 No. is the number used for the series or sequencing of events. Scene is for the location
setting where the event would take place.
 Character is for the person, animal or thing that will act in relation to the scene. It may
follow through with the conversation of the character(s) as needed.
 Animation is the visual effect that you usually apply like in a PowerPoint presentation
which includes fade, wipe, fly in, or slide.
 Transition is how a slide or frame would move in relation to  the  next  one. Transitions
include wipe, push a split, or dissolve, to name a few.
 The Camera shot is categorized between three to four kinds,  namely  close up, extreme
close up, middle or medium shot, and long shot.
 The background sound and audio are the sound effects or audio backdrop that sets the
locale.
 Microsoft Movie Maker is a popular video-editing program for Windows. You can use it to
apply various effects in making your own mini movie clip. With the use of its timeline, you
can view the exact and precise application of certain effects in a video. You can save your
movie like its an editable storyboard.

Things to consider in making a

video
Planning is the key. Spend more time on pre-production to save on money.
Every time you  work  on  something,  preparations  are  needed.  Think  of the purpose of this
project. Will it be just for the classroom with no intention to be used in a  film festival or exhibit?
Do you plan to upload    it later on YouTube or other some other video sharing site? Would it be a
commercial or promotional material or is it simply for fun?
Knowing what is expected at the end will lead the focus of this project. Make a schedule to follow
for the shoot. Track things needed in the shoot and find out what are essential to trim the list
down. A mini-clip does not require much, so get the character and the appropriate locale right
from the start, so that you don’t have second thoughts during production.
Well-crafted scenes are important for them to be dynamic and vibrant. Camera angles and
movements can help the eye follow through to the  next scene. They can motivate and inspire the
viewers to be  interested and be hooked until the end of the video.
Rushing ideas can give you inadequate possibilities so write it all down and know what you want.
Every aspect of production is related to the budget and you can only do so much where money is
concerned.
Keep in mind the number or days allotted for the project. Its due date   and presentation.
Don’t be discouraged about criticism. This is your production and what better way to learn and
share this exciting experience than in a showcase for critics? Years from now, you may view your 
mini-clip  and  laugh about it or maybe this would lead to you getting fame and fortune if it  goes
viral online. But don’t get ahead of yourself. Just finish the job and enjoy whatever is there to
experience in the making of your AVP. The show must go on. 

Video Editing Applications

Video editing comes last in the stages of production but even so, during the logistics planning in
the pre-production stage, your team should already have identified which tool to use. Do you want
to use Adobe Premiere Pro? That would be  a  great tool  for  professional editing. But  as a
student, can you afford it? Does it suit your need and is the cost  worth it? Professional editing
tools are expensive because they offer a variety of editing capabilities over free tools that are
downloadable from the Internet. But this doesn’t mean you can’t create quality videos from those
free tools.
Windows Live Movie Maker for example, in conjunction with a creative mind, can be used to
create quality edited videos. Unfortunately, Microsoft is officially ending its support for this
program in 2017. But there are lots of free video editing tools out there that are just as good, if not
better thab Movie Maker.
Here are some of the popular video editing software that you can use for free. (Wilson, 2017)

Lightworks

Dubbed as a professional video editor for everyone, Lightworks is indeed powerful because it’s
not just a simple tool for cutting video clips. It works on all major operating systems (Windows,
Linux, Mac) and supports almost every format you can think of without the need for transcoding.
It is also optimized for speed in rendering and offers various powerful, real-time effects with
inbuilt presets and many features that are often only present in paid professional video editors. In
other words, it is truly a powerful professional video editor.
Above is a scene from the movie, The King’s Speech, a 2010 British  biographical  drama film
directed by Tom Hooper and written by David Seidler, starring Colin Firth, as King George VI, and
Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth. It won an Academy Award for Best Picture in 2010.
You wonder why it was mentioned? Because Tariq  Anwar, the editor, used Lightworks in cutting
the movie. (Lightworks, 2017)

VideoPad Video Editor

VideoPad is a beginner-friendly video editor that offers  excellent features. It does a great job in
achieving a balance between being an “easy-to-use” and “professional” video editor. It does not
offer as much features as Lightworks, but it still offers an excellent array of practical editing tools.

Shotcut
Shotcut, originally an app made for Linux, had an unusual user interface which is friendly for
users to find their way (most of the  time) when  using the app. Shotcut has a steep learning curve
which requires a great deal of patience, but according to TechRadar, “…real rewards will only be
reaped by those willing to invest…” (Wilson, 2017). Shotcut nevertheless is a powerful
professional-feeling video editor.