CONTEXTUAL THINKING ABOUT DIFFERENT SCENARIOS

This exercise involves you using imagination and logical reasoning to occupy the mindset of a visualiser facing the task of formulating a brief for different scenarios. Imagine you are given the challenge of creating a visualisation/infographic in each of the following made-up scenarios relating to the subject of Oil Spills.

Scenario A: A broadsheet newspaper reporting on the regions and communities affected by oil spills

Scenario B: Analysts at the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) providing business intelligence reporting to support operational colleagues

Scenario C: Presentation to shareholders of BP (British Petroleum) demonstrating the reduction in spill-related losses

Website reference: The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) statistics page

Compile a document outlining your assumptions, definitions and ideas about the context and vision for each of the scenarios presented above. Get into the mindset of the potential creators and audiences. If you were them what do you think you might be faced with in terms of requirements, constraints, needs and possibilities?

(Context) CURIOSITY: Outline what you think might be the essence of the trigger curiosity behind each scenario?

(Context) CIRCUMSTANCES: Work through the list shared in the book of the main circumstantial headings and list or describe your creative and critical judgment about the inevitable, assumed, or self-defined factors you think might be relevant or existent in each scenario. Consider the reasons behind your judgments

(Context) PURPOSE: How might you describe or articulate what you imagine the purpose of the work associated with each scenario would be: how might success, impact or effectiveness be expressed and measured? What is the right kind of experience and tone of voice that would reflect the best fit creative direction (could be a singular location or a journey across the dimensions of the map).

(Vision) IDEAS: Sketch out your instinctive ideas about what you think the visual work for each scenario look’s like in your mind’s eye: what colours, forms, keywords, layouts, thoughts come to mind when you think about the subject at hand? What other work can you find through research or past experience that may offer inspiration, influence or reference for your thinking?

There is no need to do any data extraction or analysis, just use your imagination for what data could exist and could be available. There is no perfect answer, no right and no wrong: it is about using a degree of practical imagination and empathy (your ability to occupy the mindset of others). You will need to make many assumptions and take the initiative to define things yourself.