human migration infographic case study
DESCRIPTION
For Information Design Class at the Art Institute of SeattleTRANSCRIPT
Human Migration Map Lauren Watkins
Integrated Information Design
Project 1
Case Study 17 October 2012
Project Statement
Company: The Smithsonian’s Human Origins Initiative “The initiative’s goal is to explore the universal human story at its broadest time scale. It seeks to stimulate new research findings that deepen an understanding of what makes our species unique and how we came to be.” They want to expand the public’s knowledge and understanding of human evolution. http://humanorigins.si.edu/resources/about The Smithsonian Their mission is “the increase and diffusion of knowledge,” their vision is “shaping the future by preserving our heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing our resources with the world.” http://www.si.edu/About/Mission Problem: The Smithsonian website and National Museum of Natural History has a section on “What does it mean to be human?” that is funded by the “Human Origins Initiative.” This “web site is dedicated to bringing you the excitement, latest findings, and profound implications of the scientific exploration of human origins.” There are many lists of facts and lists of timelines accompanied by generic images. Lists of facts are boring and can be hard to understand. There is no migration timeline. Opportunity: This problem gives us the opportunity to expand visitors’ knowledge by presenting the information in a easier to understand, graphic style. There is a need for a timeline of the first anatomical humans from Africa to the rest of the globe. By creating an info-graphic of the human evolution timeline, the information will be easier and more interesting to read. It will invite and incise more viewers, which will ultimately create a more educated public. Solution: The solution is an interactive map of the world for the site. The start is Africa and the end is South America. Above the map will be a timeline starting at 200,000 years ago, the estimated date of the first anatomically modern human. Each section of the globe where humans migrated will be in a different color according to the time they migrated to that location. There will be pinpoints on significant findings for that area and time. On rollover of these pinpoints, further information about that point will pop-out.
Sources
"Human Evolution by The Smithsonian Institution's Human Origins Program." Human Evolution by The Smithsonian Institution's Human Origins Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <http://humanorigins.si.edu/>. "Human Journey, Human Origins - National Geographic Magazine." Human Journey, Human Origins - National Geographic Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0603/feature2/map.html>. "Timeline of Dietary Shifts in the Human Line of Evolution." Timeline of Dietary Shifts in the Human Line of Evolution. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <http://www.beyondveg.com/nicholson-w/hb/hb-interview1c.shtml>. map image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/LocationAntarctica.png
Hagen, Chad. "Nonsensical Infographic No.1." Archival pigment print.
Flickr. Yahoo!, 05 Apr. 2009. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/30625014@N02/3417314834/in/set-72157617833014482/>.
NileRiver
Red Sea
AndamanIslands
Meadowcroft19,000-12,000 years ago
Kennewick9,500 years ago
Spirit Cave9,500-9,400
years ago
Monte Verde14,800 years ago
Niah Cave40,000 years ago
Qafzeh100,000years ago
Lake Mungo45,000 years ago
Malakunanja50,000 years ago
Omo KibishOldest modern human195,000 years ago
Pestera cu Oase35,000 years ago
Yana River30,000 years ago
Zhoukoudian(Shandingdong)
11,000 years ago
Minatogawa18,000 years ago
Clovis13,500years ago
Klasies River Mouth120,000 years ago
EQUATOR
40,000-30,000years ago
20,000-15,000years ago
50,000years ago
15,000-12,000years ago
200,000 years ago
70,000-50,000 years ago
40,000years ago
AUSTRALIA
ASIA
AFRICA
EUROPE
NORTHAMERICA
SOUTHAMERICA
1
2
3
4
5
6
Migration date Generalized route
Human MigrationFossil or artifact site
40,000years ago
SOURCES: SUSAN ANTON, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY; ALISON BROOKS, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY; PETER FORSTER, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE; JAMES F. O'CONNELL, UNIVERSITY OF UTAH; STEPHEN OPPENHEIMER, OXFORD UNIVERSITY; SPENCER WELLS, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY; OFER BAR-YOSEF, HARVARD UNIVERSITY
NGM MAPS
© 2006 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.
Mood Boards
Competitive Analysis
Inspiration
Destination
Sketches
Progress
200,000 70,000 40,000 20,000 12,00050,000100,000
200,000 70,000 40,000 20,000 12,00050,000100,000
200 70 40 20 12 950
Thousands of years ago . . .
Human Migration
200 70 40 20 12 950
Thousands of years ago . . .
Human Migration
200,000 yaModern Humans (Homo Sapiens) arrive.
75,000 yaNear extinction. Climate change brings the human population to between 10,000 and 600.
Neanderthals have already lived in Europe and Asia for as long as Humans have been on the earth.
A single Siberian population moves across the Bering Strait to North America. Glacial ice will block their movement south.
200 70 40 20 12 950
Thousands of years ago . . .
Human Migration
200,000 yaModern Humans (Homo Sapiens) arrive.
75,000 yaNear extinction. Climate change brings the human population to between 10,000 and 600.
Neanderthals have already lived in Europe and Asia for as long as Humans have been on the earth.
A single Siberian population moves across the Bering Strait to North America. Glacial ice will block their movement south.