Critic #1: Troy
Emulation feedback: Troy recommended for the y-axis I could use a strong back (component that SpaceX is using to hold up a rocket before launch to provide structural support) to give a visual communication to my timeline. I could also use the barge for the y-axis. he also mentioned to remove the x-axis lines inside of the chart, similar to what we had to do in our homework, I'm a bit afraid of removing these guidances but I will see how it affects my model. Worse case scenario individuals could just count the number of patches to see how many missions were flown per year.
I listened to Troy's advice by modifying the timeline into a totally new version that better represents of what I was trying to illustrate in the first place. I no longer go with the traditional y-axis so I won't be able to make the strong-back shown but I will think of a place where it would suit in. I also changed the timeline from a bar chart into an area chart with medium-fidelity rocket models.
revisions:
Critic #2: Estelle
Emulation feedback: Estelle focused on the mission patches which was quite helpful to get someone else's opinion since I felt conflicted about them during my designs. Her first reaction was that its not only cluttered but the icons are too small to inspect what the mission was and what each of them represents. This also conflicts with both my Visual and Color language model due to the diverse shapes, and colors being used. She recommended that instead of using patches I should use illustrations of each of the falcon models and tie them back to one specific year on the x-axis while also showing the exact date of the launch. This would also allow me to have three lines showing where the cargo was delivered (Kepler Line, Low Earth Orbit, or Geo-Stationary Orbit).
I followed Estelle's critic by removing the badges from my overall design due to creating too much noise with too many various colors and pixelated fonts. Displaying tiny complex patches in the first place was not a bright idea but I didn't give up the content, it's just not suitable for my current layout model. During the printing process the observers wouldn't of been able to inspect the design due to compression. Instead of patches I incorporated types of SpaceX's rocket's such as Falcon 1, Falcon 9 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2.
revisions:
Critic #3: Bryce
Emulation feedback: Bryce advised me to don't pursue my second version with the pictures because it goes against my visual language model. Initially I wanted to trace over them but even than Bryce thinks it would take too much time to do that since I already have the first version which is a working model that I only need to apply small improvements. He also advised me to incorporate my color language model and start working with dark backgrounds and matching colors for the outlines and x/y-axis lines.
I followed Bryce's advice by going back to my second version and fine-tuning it with fixed description bars and better resolution. Instead of tracing I just used my already existing models that I modified to incorporate the fairings and the dragon capsule. I also made two other rocket models, the Falcon 1 - first rocket by SpaceX, and different iterations of the Falcon 9 to enhance my visual communication. I also illustrated the different heights that SpaceX is delivering satellites and cargo and instead of using Mission Patches I'm using the actual rockets that were used and configured at the time.
revisions:
Critic #1: Bryce
Emulation feedback: Bryce had really good first impression of the newly redesigned revision of my time chart. However he did recommend that its a bit clustered design wise. I could either cut down on the models or make each of the rockets move further away from each other. It's also hard to make the correlation between the months and the years, the connection should be clearer and more fluid. Finally I should also provide more legends in the top right corner to explain the small icons and the different components of the time chart.
As per Bryce's suggestion I cleared up some of the clusters that my Time Graph was experiencing. I've increased the gaps between the variations of the Falcons and I also included more of the recent missions to incorporate constant updates of what is happening.
revisions:
Critic #2: Andre
Emulation feedback: Andre recommended to incorporate both my visual model and my color model into my revisioned model. It's difficult to orientate throughout the time-chart without having colors as guidance. Unfortunately looking everything in black and white is creating too much contrast and too much noise to navigate around the complex details. Andre is sure that once I incorporate color it will be easier to pathfind around it. Finally, I should pay attention to my fonts as well, some of my typography does not fit with my type model, the title and sub-titles should be all capital and bolded words.
I followed Andre's suggestion by changing the way I formatted my fonts within my model. I went back to my Typography Model to reflect on it and change the fonts to exactly resemble it. It's difficult to exactly match the size of the font due to the differences between the art-boards but I tried to match it very closely. Lastly, I compressed and changed the size of the mission titles to make them more organized.
revisions:
Time Element & Critiques
Critic #3: Isabelle
Emulation feedback: Isabelle recommended to explain what the difference is between each of the rockets displayed in my time-chart. Right now I'm displaying too many iterations and its confusing to find out which rockets are being used and why. Like whats the difference between the rocket that has the fairing vs the one with the dragon capsule? Why all of a sudden SpaceX decided to switch from a small demo rocket to the Falcon 9 and eventually expand it into a larger model in a short period of time? These informations are important but my model is already clustered and integrating these facts would create way too much noise. I should either make it minimalistic or create visual guides by only using colors.
I followed Isabelle's critique by enchanting the Falcon's engine's and body while also redesigning both the satellites and the dragon capsules. A couple of the mission titles are changed too to increase accuracy by reflecting the mission data straight from SpaceX's Launch Manifest. Last but not least I applied my Color Model and fixed minor details that was difficult to see because of the dark background and different contrasts.
revisions:
The following Time Element Models illustrates two kinds of timelines that is a critical component for SpaceX history and how it was built up too a superior private rocket company. SpaceX was founded by Elon Musk in 2002 but they haven't started producing rockets until 2006. It was then when Falcon 1 had its first flight, unfortunately the first three launches were unsuccessful. The fourth try changed everything when they incorporated the four-leaf clover design into their patches as a good luck charm symbol and the launch was finally successful, propelling the company forward. In 2010 NASA also gave them a contract to supply cargo to the International Space Station which essentially saved the company from going bankrupt. SpaceX started producing Dragon Capsules that could dock to the ISS while also developing a much more advanced rocket called the Falcon 9 that would serve as the Flagship platform for the Dragon and Private satellite launches. They wanted to achieve a way to make rockets affordable and easy to produce, essentially making them re-usable. SpaceX made history in 2015 when they successfully landed Falcon 9's First Stage back on land, making it the first vertical landing of an orbital class rocket. Since then there has been 8 landings on barges on the Ocean and at LZ-1 (Landing Zone on Cape Canaveral). 2 years after in 2017 SpaceX yet achieved to make another history by successfully re-using a landed stage and land it again. Now the ultimate goal is to fully re-use all stages of the rocket, including the fairings and also to travel around the Moon in 2018 and reach Mars by 2020.
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How this element exploits the visual potential of time: Throughout my timeline design elements two elements will always stay the same, the x-axis which will represent time passing from the foundation of SpaceX to current days, potentially focusing on future dates as well as using lighter outlines. For my first version I'm using mission patches but throughout the critiques I learned that this could be a wrong way doing it since it conflicts with all of my models unfortunately. Instead I will be focusing on creating rocket models for each of the missions to preserve the outlines of each of the rockets and create less "noise" by using simplistic shapes and colors. The visual potential of time is exploited to convey a timeline that demonstrates each of the launches according their date, Falcon model, the orbit the payload reached and the relating returning landing attempts or successes through minimalistic visually stimulating icons throughout the x-axis. This elements arches through all of the launches that SpaceX conducted to not only show the curvature of the Earth but also the different layers of space to indicate the exact altitude the satellite or the dragon was delivered. This is also a reference point where the observer can always come back and spot unique events on the timeline as they browse through. Legends are present around this element to always resonate the icons and what they are presenting. The icons are designed to express each of the events in the most minimalistic and simplistic way possible which indicates a clear understanding of the meaning behind them.
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How this element emulates the models:
To emulate my color model I will be using a dark blue background with the lines being colored with my selected hex colors such as white, gray, light blue and orange outlines for critical parts/components.
To emulate my visual language model I will be creating outlines for each of the tiles instead of using pictures. First step would be tracing over the pictures to create outlines for it that would make it not only simplistic but also an efficient way to represent what each of the model stands for. Tracing over each of the Mission Patches would take an eternity and this is why using the layout of the rocket will be much more efficient.
To emulate my typography model I used the Pragmatic Font while I made sure to have the same size and weight for my title's and subtitles. Finally I highlighted key words that illustrates what is happening within the models.
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Sources/Credit:
http://www.visualfoundry.com/SpaceX-Milestones-Timeline
