Charts in Art

Pop Chart Lab is a design studio based in Brooklyn.

Grand Taxonomy of Rap Names

The Very Many Varieties of Beer

I am drawn to these posters because the process of making such a highly detailed charts is so systematic and analytical. In many ways, it requires a different way of thinking than say painting. While these posters are cool, there are other artists who are working in a similar fashion in order to come to a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.

For example, the contemporary graphic designer Nicholas Felton collects data from his life such the number of books read, number of plants killed, number of birthday parties attended... The beauty of Felton's work is that he goes into minute detail with the data he collects and compiles the information into a masterfully designed annual report titled "The Felton Annual Report".

Page from the "Felton 2010 Annual Report".

Felton has been making his annual reports since 2005 and has received much recognition for his project. Most recently (as in like a week ago), there was an article in the NYT's Technology section about his work. Felton uses technology to track and record what he is doing. He started the website Daytum as a tool to help people similarly record data in their lives. The website even has an iPhone application for the truly obsessed.

Felton with his 2010 annual report.

Felton specializes in information graphics (making charts) and has designed for numerous corporations and publications, including the Wall Street Journal and Wired. He also has worked as an adjunct professor of graphic design at SVA and Parsons.

A short video in which Felton explains his process.

Some Pretty Things for Valentine's Day

COATT
"love" in morse code

Row Boat Press

Tracy Jenkins

Mary & Matt
70% dark chocolate, 20% milk chocolate, 10% white chocolate.

Susan Kare

For other ideas: http://nerdvalentine.tumblr.com/

What is Black and White all Over?

Jennifer Ramos is a designer from L.A.

Michael Jon Watt is inspired by typography, vintage signs, and bus scrolls.

On his Etsy site he creates custom-made scrolls, which can be used to commemorate events like weddings or record your favorite places, people, or things.

These two posters resonate with me because there is a seamless marriage between the concept and the aesthetics. Conceptually, both pieces examine a singular idea (the word "hello" and a wedding day) and offer several variations that further explain the idea (such as different ways to say hello and the various destinations associated with a wedding)

The vertical list format, the simple sans serif font, and the black and white color palette remove all unnecessary visual elements, which makes the the viewer focus on the message of the piece. The design is neat, clean, simple, modern, yet powerful.

I think it is interesting how this is a common trend in the design world, after all two separate artists are making very similar choices about font, color, and composition. This push towards minimalism is a re-occuring theme in modern and contemporary art and design. Several artists use font in a similar manner. For example, the painter Ed Rusha works with the viscersal associations that are connected to specific words and the contemporary installation and conceptual artist Jenny Holzer uses short text phrases ("truisms") as a way to communicate a specific message.

Ed Rushca, Noise, 1963, oil on canvas, 72 x67 inches.

Jenny Holzer, A Survival sorozatbol, Times Square, NY. 1985-86.