Syllabus

Description

At what point does data become narrative and how can we, as designers, facilitate this transformation? How can we design interfaces and systems that will draw on generated data to show compelling stories, patterns, and points of view? This course, in collaboration with The New York Times, will allow students access to a variety of data sets and APIs from the Times, such as article text, metadata (keywords, geotags, etc.), and archival data. Using these APIs, students will develop generative interfaces and data visualization projects that create dynamic views into the news and journalism of the present and the past. Outstanding projects may be featured on the NYTimes.com website and/or presented to relevant groups within The New York Times.

Prerequisite: Knowledge of one or more of the following: REST APIs, JavaScript, Processing, ActionScript, Java, C++, PHP/MySQL

Faculty
Alexis Lloyd
alexislloyd [at] gmail [dot] com

The Fine Print: Rules + Requirements

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory.  Absences due to reasons of poor health or personal emergencies must be cleared in advance with the instructor whenever possible.

Students who are more than 15 minutes late for a class will be considered absent.  While you will not be given attendance credit for a class for which you are late, you will be given in-class credit and credit for projects handed in on time so come even if you are running late.  Just don’t disrupt the class when you arrive.

Originality of Work

All projects must be original works. Any cases of plagiarism will be taken to the dean and result in dismissal.  If you have any questions regarding your work on this issue, please ask me in advance of handing in your work.

Class Participation

Discussion and critique are extremely important aspects of the class. Each student is expected to participate in the discussion and to actively critique fellow students’ work. Degree of participation, quality of contributions, and respect for fellow students will all contribute to your overall final grade.

Readings

There will be a number of reading assignments over the course of the semester. Most of these will be provided as handouts or will be made available online. However, you are required to buy or borrow Edward Tufte’s The Visual Display of Quantitative Information.

Reading Responses

Students are required to post reactions and thoughts to each reading assignment on the class blog. Reactions should not be summaries of the readings, but rather a concise exploration of your own responses. Discussion and engagement with other students’ responses is encouraged.

Criteria for evaluation

Students in the course will receive feedback on the following areas:

1. Communication: How well is the student able to express their ideas, both verbally and in written form?
2. Critical Thinking: To what degree has the student demonstrated and developed critical thinking skills over the course of the semester? Is critical thinking evident in the visual work, in critiques and presentations, and in written assignments?
3. Design Process: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the student’s design process? Is the student able to evaluate the work at different points in the process and to identify areas in their work for future development?
4. Contextualization and Connection: To what degree has the student been able to connect the themes and core concepts of the course to their work?  Is this clearly demonstrated in their class participation, project presentation, and written work?
5. Integration and Appropriate Use of Technology: Is the student making good choices about the form and type of technology they are using to express their design concepts? Is the student able to integrate technology into the conceptualization, presentation and execution of their projects?

Grade Scale Descriptions

A = Work of exceptional quality.
A- = Work of high quality.
B+ = Work of high quality, higher than average abilities.
B = Very good work that satisfies goals of course.
B- = Good work.
C+ = Average work, understanding of course material.
C = Adequate work; passable
C- = Passing work but below good academic standing.
D = Below average work; does not fully understand the assignments.
F = Failure, no credit

How grading is calculated:

Attendance: 10%
Project One: 20%
Final Project: 30%
In Class Participation: 15%
Other assignments: 15%
Reaction papers: 10%

The Links: Tools + Resources

New York Times developer info:

• Times Developer Network

Data visualization websites:

• Simple Complexity
• Information Aesthetics
• Visual Complexity
• Programmable Web

Rapid prototyping tools:

• Dabble
• Google Chart API
• Swivel
• ManyEyes
• Widgenie

Note: You are encouraged to use rapid prototyping tools for sketches and explorations, but the front-end design for all projects submitted in this class MUST BE ORIGINAL DESIGNS and not pre-packaged interfaces.

The Schedule: What We’re Doing

09.04 :: Week 1

• Introductions
• Overview of the course
• In-class project

Assignments due 9.11

• Sign up for API keys
• Data Viz Inspiration Presentation
• Readings:
  • Edward Tufte, Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Chapter 4, “Data-Ink and Graphical Redesign”
  • Christiane Paul, “The Database as System and Cultural Form: Anatomies of Cultural Narratives”

09.11 :: Week 2

• Student presentations and discussion of readings
• Presentations: Data Viz Inspiration

Assignments due 9.18

• Data Types presentation
• Readings:
  • Stephen Few, “Effectively Communicating Numbers – Selecting the Best Means and Manner of Display“
  • Jennifer Tidwell, Designing Interfaces: Chapter 6, “Showing Complex Data: Trees, Tables, and Other Information Graphics”

09.18 :: Week 3

• Student presentations and discussion of readings
• Presentations: Data Types

09.25 :: Week 4
Class held at The New York Times, meet in lobby near 41st Street entrance (between 7th and 8th Aves.)

• Tour of NYT R&D Lab
• Guest Speakers:
  • Derek Gottfrid, Senior Software Architect
  • Amanda Cox, Graphics Editor

Assignments due 10.02

• TimesWire visualization

10.02 :: Week 5

• Discussion of Project One requirements and readings
• Presentations: TimesWire visualization

Assignments due 10.09

• Project One proposals
• Readings:
  • Edward Tufte, Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Chapter 7, “Multifunctioning Graphical Elements”
  • Edward Tufte, Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Chapter 9, “Aesthetics and Technique in Data Graphical Design”

10.09 :: Week 6

• Presentation of Project One proposals
• Reading discussion

10.16 :: Week 7

• Project updates and design sketches

10.23 :: Week 8

• Guest speaker: Michael Young, Creative Technologist (NYT R+D)

10.30 :: Week 9

• Guest Speaker: Evan Sandhaus, Semantic Technologist (NYT R+D)
• Project updates

11.06 :: Week 10

• Presentations of Project One

11.13 :: Week 11

• Discussion of final project requirements

Assignments due 11.20

• Final project proposals

11.20 :: Week 12

• Presentation of final project proposals

11.27 :: Week 13
Thanksgiving holiday, no class.

12.04 :: Week 14

• Update on final projects

12.11 :: Week 15

• Guest speaker: Mark Hansen
• Update on final projects

12.18 :: Week 16

• Final project presentations