I love infographics – Map of the Market

Usually when I try to tell people how important are infographics in a world where the amount of generated data is growing exponentially, I get this strange look. So, NewsMap is nice but is a gimmick, and SparkLines… well…. why the hell do we need such small graphs when you can have a big one?

But the Map of The Market overview by SmartMoney helped me nail it (At least with those who find some interest in the stock market). Suddenly, the power of infographics is so evident. It takes only a short glance to see what’s the status of the market today (the last year or 26 weeks) and how did it perform. You can also quickly notice the exceptional companies that performed better than the market.

Sweet.

Better UX = Better Grades?

My love is in her 2nd year of her studies for a B.A. in Chemistry in Tel-Aviv University. Usually she gets really upset before big exams. 

Now, she is having this big exam in 2 days, and I see her happy and content. Trying to understand what causes this change of behavior, I ask her and she tells me she has a great book to study from. “What’s so great about this book?”, I ask. And she surprises me: “It really helps me understand this material”.

Even more curious, I get closer to examine the book. And suddenly it all becomes clear. This is maybe the most friendly, easy, clear and fun book to learn with. Just look at those headers, colors, clear problem boxes, yellow highlights (originally in the book).

So, if it’s easier to study from, it’s easier for the student to succeed in the exam. User Experience matters!

p.s. – Somehow those colors and highlighting reminds me of Basecamp.