Comments on: VizThink Challenge: Which images were used and why it matters http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/02/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/ Inspiring connections through images Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:20:10 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: VizThink Challenge: What else can we see in the data? » VisualsSpeak blog http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/02/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-739 VizThink Challenge: What else can we see in the data? » VisualsSpeak blog Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:32:05 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/02/27/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/#comment-739 [...] VizThink Challenge: Which images were used and why it matters [...] [...] VizThink Challenge: Which images were used and why it matters [...]

]]> By: VizThink Challenge: What the words tell us » VisualsSpeak blog http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/02/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-440 VizThink Challenge: What the words tell us » VisualsSpeak blog Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:14:31 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/02/27/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/#comment-440 [...] VizThink Challenge: Which images were used and why it matters [...] [...] VizThink Challenge: Which images were used and why it matters [...]

]]> By: VizThink Challenge: What else can we see in the data? » VisualsSpeak Blog http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/02/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-218 VizThink Challenge: What else can we see in the data? » VisualsSpeak Blog Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:36:03 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/02/27/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/#comment-218 [...] the VizThink Challenge. Previous posts have covered how the challenge came about, an overview, what images were used, and what the words tell [...] [...] the VizThink Challenge. Previous posts have covered how the challenge came about, an overview, what images were used, and what the words tell [...]

]]> By: VizThink Challenge: What the words tell us » VisualsSpeak Blog http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/02/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-215 VizThink Challenge: What the words tell us » VisualsSpeak Blog Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:52:56 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/02/27/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/#comment-215 [...] the first level, we looked at the frequency of image use. We then invited our colleague Dr Rene-Marc Mangin to bring his perspective as a marketing [...] [...] the first level, we looked at the frequency of image use. We then invited our colleague Dr Rene-Marc Mangin to bring his perspective as a marketing [...]

]]> By: Christine Martell http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/02/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/comment-page-/#comment-219 Christine Martell Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:51:10 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/02/27/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/#comment-219 Betsy, Cropping an image can really help get that more intimate feeling. Or an unusual camera angle. So, for example, if you are taking a big group image, climb up high or get very low when you take it. Just that will break out of the typical line up shot feeling. With the old pickup and flowers I assumed it was going to be related to Artrain's shift from an old train to a new form. Yet, when I looked through all the written descriptions, I didn't see any indication of that. Instead I found the list I put in the post. Since it was selected by more than 50% of the tables, I would pay very close attention to it in developing marketing messages. I also would test whether there was something about the way the challenge was set up. So I might do a smaller test where I gave less information up front to see if the same image repetition showed up. It really depends on how significant the marketing campaign is going to be. So if it was just an image on a website, I might just stick it up and see how things went. If it was to determine images that were going to be painted on the side of the new tractor trailers, I would suggest a lot more testing and analysis. Betsy,
Cropping an image can really help get that more intimate feeling. Or an unusual camera angle. So, for example, if you are taking a big group image, climb up high or get very low when you take it. Just that will break out of the typical line up shot feeling.

With the old pickup and flowers I assumed it was going to be related to Artrain’s shift from an old train to a new form. Yet, when I looked through all the written descriptions, I didn’t see any indication of that. Instead I found the list I put in the post. Since it was selected by more than 50% of the tables, I would pay very close attention to it in developing marketing messages. I also would test whether there was something about the way the challenge was set up. So I might do a smaller test where I gave less information up front to see if the same image repetition showed up. It really depends on how significant the marketing campaign is going to be. So if it was just an image on a website, I might just stick it up and see how things went. If it was to determine images that were going to be painted on the side of the new tractor trailers, I would suggest a lot more testing and analysis.

]]> By: Betsy Hansel http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/02/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-214 Betsy Hansel Mon, 03 Mar 2008 02:25:50 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/02/27/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/#comment-214 Christine, I think you've just explained why it so frequently gets boring to view someone else's vacation photos, and yet we always want to share them! The other tendency for organizations (my own included) is the obligatory group photo of practically everyone attending some event. People at the event always seem to want these photos -- perhaps to try to pick out their face in the crowd, perhaps to remember the group feeling. But that group feeling seldom shows up. I'm not sure the solution is using professional images, but clearly more effort to match the message to an appropriate and authentic image would help. I do wonder why so many people liked the old pick up truck with flowers. What does this say? Christine, I think you’ve just explained why it so frequently gets boring to view someone else’s vacation photos, and yet we always want to share them! The other tendency for organizations (my own included) is the obligatory group photo of practically everyone attending some event. People at the event always seem to want these photos — perhaps to try to pick out their face in the crowd, perhaps to remember the group feeling. But that group feeling seldom shows up. I’m not sure the solution is using professional images, but clearly more effort to match the message to an appropriate and authentic image would help.

I do wonder why so many people liked the old pick up truck with flowers. What does this say?

]]> By: Christine Martell http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/02/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/comment-page-/#comment-216 Christine Martell Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:10:14 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/02/27/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/#comment-216 Michele, I think it is really easy to do this. From an internal viewpoint, you take a picture of your focus (the train), then pictures at the events. Often you are behind people taking photos, and then you don't have to worry about model releases and such. The problem is that the pictures are speaking so loudly on an unconscious level. When you take a photo of something or someone who is familiar, you have a very different response to it than someone without that connection. It gets really tough to step back and look at what the photo is conveying detached from our own meaning. Michele,
I think it is really easy to do this. From an internal viewpoint, you take a picture of your focus (the train), then pictures at the events. Often you are behind people taking photos, and then you don’t have to worry about model releases and such. The problem is that the pictures are speaking so loudly on an unconscious level.

When you take a photo of something or someone who is familiar, you have a very different response to it than someone without that connection. It gets really tough to step back and look at what the photo is conveying detached from our own meaning.

]]> By: Michele Martin http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/02/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-217 Michele Martin Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:29:04 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/02/27/vizthink-challenge-which-images-were-used-and-why-it-matters/#comment-217 Christine, this is so fascinating to see and to read your analysis. I'm particularly struck by the differences in color between what ArtTrain is currently using and the images selected by the participants. It's kind of interesting, actually, that they wouldn't have had a greater focus on using brightly colored images, given that their mission is art. I also see what you're talking about with the issues of connection/intimacy as expressed by the VizThink participants and the distances communicated by the current pictures. That's a really important issue that I think is sometimes forgotten with organizational websites, especially when they're using their own photos. Really interesting stuff--I'm looking forward to seeing how this evolves. Christine, this is so fascinating to see and to read your analysis. I’m particularly struck by the differences in color between what ArtTrain is currently using and the images selected by the participants. It’s kind of interesting, actually, that they wouldn’t have had a greater focus on using brightly colored images, given that their mission is art. I also see what you’re talking about with the issues of connection/intimacy as expressed by the VizThink participants and the distances communicated by the current pictures. That’s a really important issue that I think is sometimes forgotten with organizational websites, especially when they’re using their own photos.

Really interesting stuff–I’m looking forward to seeing how this evolves.

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