I am pleased to share the mapping work of my neighbor, Jonathan Levy, which he completed for the Museum of New York with The Pratt Institute and Local Projects. This is an interactive mapping environment that feature socio-economic, transportation and environmental data analysis.
In making visible what is otherwise hidden and inaccessible, maps … enable the accumulation, organization … of the … ever-emerging milieu. — James Corner, Agency of Mapping
The purpose of the exhibit is to curate and make visible key aspects of New York life: making a living, living together, housing a growing population, living with nature, and getting around.
The universal design principles evident in use are Color, Comparison, and Layering. Note the different hues and complements of the colors within the “views” of the map – ethnicities, housing in the images above; the comparison afforded by the use of categorical data on neighborhood block-level Census tracts; and the visual layering that enables one to see the various information levels atop each other, albeit not at the same time. I assert the animation effect enables the layering to be transient and memorial at the same time.
Additional design principles operating include Immersion, Depth of Processing, and Five Hat Racks: location, category, continuum. (Tip o’ the hat to Rona for her selection of that one.
Immersion is the only way I can think of to describe the stunning display used for this exhibit. It takes horizontal information which is great for viewing the many layers of meaning, and extends it vertically up the wall where the imagery is used to frame the exhibit, and further immerse the viewer in an experience that is all around them.
Meanwhile, the map uses a lot of data to build this exhibit. In this way, I see this map as employing depth of processing to deepen the experience for viewers through the use of the physical display and the information presented.
[Fun fact: Jonathan also served as my practice interview for User Needs 281, wearing his Actor hat. I miss Brooklyn.]
[Updated: Watching Jesse’s lecture, I’m understanding the Gestalt principle of Figure-Ground and can see that at work in this map where NYC is the figure, and the water is the ground. A selection, ethnicities, becomes the figure, everything else the ground; and so on.