A picture of health

Well, in honour of my sketch being shortlisted for the first Information is Beautiful challenge (see last post), I felt I had to work the idea up properly. I really enjoyed working with the isometric perspective, which I haven't tried before. I think in this case the pseudo-3D perspective does make it hard to see the exact relationship between the different resources. A 2D bar chart would have done this better, but the isometric perspective idea does show groupings on the periodic table as well as giving a general idea of resource levels remaining. I found that it was essential to label the elements on the table as well as at the end of the 'bars', so that you can get some definite sense of the bar length by comparing the two positions.

I'm very honoured to have been shortlisted for the first ever Information is Beautiful challenge - which involves visualising the worldwide reserves of different materials. I wish I'd been able to work up a full piece for it, but sadly I only found out about the competition 2 hours before the deadline! So I entered the "napkin challenge" - for sketches and roughs. There are loads of great ideas up there, so obviously a great success for McCandless and the IB team: http://www.informationisbeautifulawards.com/2011/10/napkin-shortlist-for-the-1st-challenge/ I guess I'd better produce the full version too now I have more leisure to do so!

[edit] to get the above graphic to legible size, you might have to right-click on it, and select "open link in new tab/window" (not "open image in new tab/window"). A new information graphic from me, on the effects of our ageing population on the number of pharmaceutical products that will be prescribed, if population projections are to be believed. This is particularly relevant as these products often pass through us and end up in water supplies - which we then take in again through eating and drinking, perhaps having unintended consequences. The graphic would not have been possible without input from: Dr Michael Depledge Professor of Environment and Human Health at Peninsula Medical school, in Cornwall and Devon, UK. Ruth Willis who produced reports for the UK's Royal Commission for Environmental Pollution. Dr Clare Redshaw Lecturer in Environmental Toxicology, European Centre for Environment and Human Health.

I've just learned that someone called Ric Hamilton is starting a blog on "the emergence of infographic CVs". I wasn't aware of the phenomenon, but just to shamelessy cash in on it, here is the one I produced for my interview at the European Centre for Environment and Human Health. Anecdotally the panel liked it, and it made me stand out. But it was for a job in visualisation... (Incedentally I did get the job). I still prefer the CV I made for myself when I was an undergraduate though. When all else fails, stick it in a cube :) http://willstahl.com/cv/index.html Edit: A blog post related to this is here: http://www.coolinfographics.com/blog/2010/1/8/16-infographic-resumes-a-visual-trend.html Edit 2: Richard Hamilton's post has appeared here: http://www.gurucareersnetwork.com/blog/infographiccv/ It looks like there are mixed opinions, but his general opinion is that you should ask yourself: "Simplifying complexity, does this form part of my job role? If the an