Info-graphic Process Book

How Do You Spend Your Time?
Time spent on various activities in Canada, by gender
Data Visualization Project
Jordan Anthony Tate

Project Description
This project required me to collect statistical data, comprehend it and then interpret
it into a visualization which was tailored to my specific user.
• Select a data set to visualize.
• Analyze the selected data set comprehensively.
• Break down the data into smaller more organized data groups and criteria.
(So the information can be structured effectively.)
• Conceptualize the ways in which the organized data can be visualized.
• Choose the most effective and appropriate visualization concept.
• Further improve my design through critiques and inspirations.

Chosen Data Set
The data set I chose is:
Time spent on various activities in Canada, by gender.
This data set compiles data regarding the time in hours (2 decimal places) of
various activities done by Canadian citizens within a 7 day period. The information
was collected from Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI). The
respondents were aged 15 and over, living in the 10 provinces, and not residing
in institutions.
This survey aids in monitoring changes in time use to better understand how
Canadians spend and manage their time and what contributes to their well-being
and stress.
The data collected provides information to all level of governments when making
funding decisions, developing priorities and identifying areas of concern for legislation,
new policies and programs. Researchers and other users use this information
to inform the general Canadian population about the changing nature of
time use in Canada.
I broke down the data set into various main categories and subcategories. There
are two main variables.
• Gender
• Time (In hours, 2 decimal places)
• Activities
Sex and activities were further sub categorized
Sex
• Male
• Female
Activities
• Work
• Paid work
• House Hold work
• Civic and Voluntary activities
• Personal Activities
• Night Sleep
• Meals
• Other Personal Activities
• Free Time
• Socializing
• Passive Leisure
• Active Leisure
I then tabulated the data extracted from the source.
This made it easier for me to manipulate the data

User
Government
The director of the ministry of health Raymond Tosh is trying to acquire
information regarding the amount of time each sex spends doing
sedentary activities. The director is doing this research to solve issues
regarding the onset of obesity and weight related problems within the
country. The director will use this information to propose a plan of action
to a committee. The director is slightly dyslexic and has problems reading
lengthy texts therefore he favors clear and easily understandable imagery
and short descriptive text.
Figure 1 Minister of Health user
Public
Todd is a recent immigrant in Vancouver. He’s 30 years old and lives by
himself. He lives a fairly sedentary lifestyle as he is a desk clerk. He is
out of shape and desires to become more fit. Todd has been told by his
friends that he has to dedicate more time to doing various work related
activities to help burn fat quicker. He is unaware of the average amount of
time other citizens dedicate to certain work related task and would want
to know so he can use this information to compare and work off of. Todd
is not very fluent in English however and sometimes have difficulties reading.
Goal
The goal of this diagram is to effectively relay information of the number
of hours different sexes partake in select activities. The user will be able to
view and understand the information with ease and delight, even without
substantial understanding of the English language.
Figure 2 Immigrant user

Appearance
The visualization will be appropriately color coded to show differentiation of genders.
I think I will utilize bar graphs with carefully generalized dimensions. I might use
different shades of the selected gendered colors to represent the different activities. I
will also use small representative icons of activities and genders to help differentiate.
(Isotype method). Little text will be used to minimize reading the visualization will be
easily understood from first glance.
Figure 4 Inspiration Bar Graph 2
Figure 3 Inspiration Bar graph
Figure 5 Inspiration Iconography

Sketches
During the lecture involving graphs Kathleen mentioned that when dealing with
time or duration bar graphs are the ideal representation. Using this knowledge I
started conceptualizing ways to depict the data
Figure 6 Rough Sketches 1 Figure 7 Rough Sketch 2

Sketches
I settled on this design because it achieved a circular clock aesthetic while appropriately
representing the information
Figure 8 Chosen Rough Sketch

Iconography
I needed to acquire appropriate and effective icons to represent the different categories.
I began sketching common representative icons of the categories and sub categories of
my data set.
Figure 10 These are my initial chosen icons
Figure 9 Icon Sketches

Ideation
After focus groups and
critiques I was advised
to adjust my design.
I was advised to;
• Acquire more
appropriate icons
• Use Icons enclosed
in circles
• Omit “Data
Visualization
• Put my key at the
bottom of the
document
• Flip the male
category
• Omit drop shadow
Figure 11 First Ideation
Figure 12 Second Ideation

Final Design
I also changed
• The way in which the icons and bars interacted
(This was a suggestion from Cece )
• I placed the legend for each category under each
visualization (suggestion from Kareem)
• I changed the title back to Univers 65 as a
suggestion from Gui (It was not as condensed
as Impact which made it more appropriate for a
title)
• Change all numeral to tabular figures
• Removed the border around the hours
• Chose more appropriate fonts for
• House Hold Work
• Paid Work
• Other Personal activities
• Socializing
• Meals
Figure 13 Final Design

Reflection
Pros
• It is easy to understand.
• Information is grouped appropriately and
effectively.
• Proper Iconography is used.
• Color is effectively used as a function and
aesthetic.
• Dark background allows for increased
contrast and focus of the content.
Cons
• Clock aesthetic is lacking and could have
been applied more.
• Visualization could be more aesthetically
pleasing.