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09/16/2015

Recipe Cards for Alex & Alex

Two of my friends and all-around favorite people, Alex (W.) and Alex (B.) got engaged in July, and threw a lovely engagement party at the end of August. As they were planning their celebration, they asked if I would design them a set of recipe cards to send to all their guests, to fill out with a favorite recipe and return at the party along with a dish to share potluck-style (or through mail, if they couldn't be there in person). In their words,

"Food is a language that transcends time zones an generations and cultures. It brings people together. We want to bring you and your traditions with us as we continue to build our kitchen and our home."

I was so happy to oblige them! The version for the engagement party has a space for guests to write in their names, so they will always know right away who shared that recipe with them; I also designed an alternate version, that simply say "From the kitchen of Alex & Alex" so they can save and share their own favorite recipes for many years to come.

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07/14/2015

Data Visualization in Processing

So, I've had a Skillshare membership for approximately 1000 years now, and enrolled in a number of classes there. But trying to find a lot of time for both watching videos, practicing, and creating projects has rather eluded me until this week. I found Nicholas Felton's Data Visualization: Designing Maps with Processing and Illustrator course, and immediately I was hooked.

Which makes no sense, considering it's got !!!PROGRAMMING!!!!! - my old nemesis.

But on the other hand.....it also has maps, the objects of my greatest visually-inclined-geography-nerd love. So I figure that's the key.

And really, the programming? Not so bad! The Processing syntax is pretty familiar and very approachable, with the Javascript and Python dabbling I've done in the past, and Nicholas explains everything in a way that makes sense, is easy to follow, and easy to replicate. And processing.org has tons of easy to use (and understand) resources.

meteor_strikes

Course Project - Mapping Meteorite Strikes by Mass

Processing seems like a really awesome, powerful tool. My execution maybe needs more refinement, but I'm excited to jump in and practice with more maps, and puzzle out how to make even more kinds of graphs and charts, to really round out my infographic makin' skills.