From Process to Practice
The Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) is an institutional improvement initiative which investigates the educational experiences and career paths of arts graduates. As part of this, SNAAP surveys graduates of US and Canadian post-secondary art and design schools on an annual basis, and provides its findings to educators, policy makers, and philanthropic organizations to improve arts training, inform cultural policy, and support artists.
This project presents the findings of the most recent (2011) SNAAP survey specific to OCAD University (formerly the Ontario College of Art & Design), Canada's oldest and largest university-level art and design school, in a composite data visualization. It was included as a removable, four-page gatefold insert in the Summer 2013 issue of SKETCH, the OCAD U alumni magazine.
The removable insert was included in the centre of the magazine (detached here). The data visualization needed to be distinct, yet still conform to both the magazine graphic standards and OCAD U's corporate identity. All type was therefore set in the official OCAD U typefaces, Gotham and Malaga. The graphic motif of coloured squares was based on one of the information graphics contained within.
The data visualization was contained within a gatefold "wrapper", expanding when opened out to four page widths. The two gatefold pages contained background information on the SNAAP survey and OCAD U's participation in it.
Detail of right gatefold page, showing the explanatory text.
The left gatefold opened to show the left half of the composite data visualization. The independent nature of the survey questions made it necessary to depict each question-specific result as an individual graphic.
Detail of composite data visualization, showing the results of the Skills + Competencies question presented as a word cloud. Important statistics (such as the 83% job satisfaction level) were presented typographically.
The back of the gatefold "wrapper", containing information on the works cited in the data visualization, as well some brief biographical information on the designer.
The front of the SNAAP data visualization insert, shown attached to the centre of the magazine.
The back of the SNAAP data visualization insert in position in the centre of the magazine. The insert was designed to be detached from the magazine and retained.
