INFORMATION DESIGN - PROJECT 1: INSTRUCTABLE POSTER
INFORMATION DESIGN - PROJECT 1: INSTRUCTABLE POSTER
9/2/2026 - 21/3/2026 (Week 1 - Week 7)
Nur Adila binti Nazary (0377352)
Information Design / Bachelor in Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Project 1: Instructable Poster
1) Lectures
2) Instructions
3) Class Activity
4) Flip Class
5) Porcess
6) Feedback
7) Final Outcome
8) ReflectionLECTURES
Week 4
Miller's Law
What is Miller's Law?
Miller's Law was introduced by a phycologist George A. Miller who states that people can only hold about 7 plus or minus 2 pieces of information in their short term memory at one time.
We use Miller's Law in design to:
- Avoid overwhelming users
- Make information easier to understand
- Improve memory and focus
- Create smoother user experiences
Example of Miller's Law used in design:
WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN WEEK 4 LECTURE:
In Week 4, I learned about the Miller's Law, which says that people can only remember about 7 plus or minus 2 pieces of information at a time. This principle helps designers organise information clearly and avoid overwhelming users. By appling Miller's Law, designer can make information easier to understand improve memory and focus and create a smoother use experience.
Miller's Law
What is Miller's Law?
Miller's Law was introduced by a phycologist George A. Miller who states that people can only hold about 7 plus or minus 2 pieces of information in their short term memory at one time.
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| Figure 1. Miller's Law |
We use Miller's Law in design to:
- Avoid overwhelming users
- Make information easier to understand
- Improve memory and focus
- Create smoother user experiences
Example of Miller's Law used in design:
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| Figure 2. Miller's Law in Infographic poster |
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| Figure 3. Miller's Law in UX design |
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| Figure 4. Miller's Law in Processes |
In Week 4, I learned about the Miller's Law, which says that people can only remember about 7 plus or minus 2 pieces of information at a time. This principle helps designers organise information clearly and avoid overwhelming users. By appling Miller's Law, designer can make information easier to understand improve memory and focus and create a smoother use experience.
INSTRUCTION
CLASS ACTIVITY
For Week 6 to 7 all are self studying. Take this time to continue with our projects.
PROCESS
Project 1, Part 1 Overview:
Focus: Instructable Poster
INSTRUCTABLE POSTER
For this project, we were required to make an infographic poster based on one chosen recipe from Pasta Grannies Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/pastagrannies/videos). By studying the video, we needed to break down the preparation and cooking process into clear steps and organise the information info an instructable poster. Visuals, text and colour were used to communicate the process clearly while also capturing the identity and personality of the dish.
RESEARCH AND INSPIRATION:
Recipe Selection
For my chosen recipe, I decided to choose Pitta Di Patate which is a rustic potato pie (https://youtu.be/c9TtMhyqLDA?si=c4N8J423LhDzntgn) because it was the most appetizing to me since I love Italian food. It was also one of the more well structured recipes from the videos, as it clearly shows the layers of the pie.
In the video, the grandma (Nonna Laura) structured her recipe very clearly, with steps from the beginning until the end, which helped me a lot when creating the step by step breakdown.
Recipe Breakdown
The first thing I did was to fully and thoroughly watch the whole video, then start on the recipe breakdown. The reason why I did this is to make the information more clearer and easier to understand. Since instrcutable / infographic posters are usually simple and short, I tried to break the information down as much as possible using some of the Manuel Lima's 9 Directive Manifesto.
Ingredients
Pitta di Patate is a simple potato pie that is made with:
- 2 kg potatoes
CLASS ACTIVITY
For Week 6 to 7 all are self studying. Take this time to continue with our projects.
FLIP CLASS
FLIP 3
Miller's Law (Chunking)
For our third Flip class activity is another presentation but specifically about Miller's Law. In week 4 we learned a little bit about Miller's Law but the lecturer wanted to do a deeper search about it. This is a group presentation work.
Research:
The lecturer wanted us to explain what Miller's Law is and give 3 examples on how Miller's Law is used in real designs in Infographics Poster, UX Design and Processes Poster.
Presentation Preparation:
We compiled everything into the Canva slide then arranged them nicely into a clear and simple presentation. Each slide had a brief explanation on the topic. During the presentation, each member explained their assigned part.
CANVA LINK: Miller's Law Slides
Miller's Law (Chunking)
For our third Flip class activity is another presentation but specifically about Miller's Law. In week 4 we learned a little bit about Miller's Law but the lecturer wanted to do a deeper search about it. This is a group presentation work.
Research:
The lecturer wanted us to explain what Miller's Law is and give 3 examples on how Miller's Law is used in real designs in Infographics Poster, UX Design and Processes Poster.
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| Figure 5. Researching progress #1 |
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| Figure 6. Researching progress #2 |
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| Figure 7. Arranging Information |
Presentation Preparation:
We compiled everything into the Canva slide then arranged them nicely into a clear and simple presentation. Each slide had a brief explanation on the topic. During the presentation, each member explained their assigned part.
CANVA LINK: Miller's Law Slides
Project 1, Part 1 Overview:
Focus: Instructable Poster
INSTRUCTABLE POSTER
For this project, we were required to make an infographic poster based on one chosen recipe from Pasta Grannies Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/pastagrannies/videos). By studying the video, we needed to break down the preparation and cooking process into clear steps and organise the information info an instructable poster. Visuals, text and colour were used to communicate the process clearly while also capturing the identity and personality of the dish.
RESEARCH AND INSPIRATION:
Recipe Selection
For my chosen recipe, I decided to choose Pitta Di Patate which is a rustic potato pie (https://youtu.be/c9TtMhyqLDA?si=c4N8J423LhDzntgn) because it was the most appetizing to me since I love Italian food. It was also one of the more well structured recipes from the videos, as it clearly shows the layers of the pie.
In the video, the grandma (Nonna Laura) structured her recipe very clearly, with steps from the beginning until the end, which helped me a lot when creating the step by step breakdown.
Recipe Breakdown
The first thing I did was to fully and thoroughly watch the whole video, then start on the recipe breakdown. The reason why I did this is to make the information more clearer and easier to understand. Since instrcutable / infographic posters are usually simple and short, I tried to break the information down as much as possible using some of the Manuel Lima's 9 Directive Manifesto.
Ingredients
Pitta di Patate is a simple potato pie that is made with:
- 2 kg potatoes
- 200 g wheat flour
- 2 eggs
- 2 eggs
- 100 g grana cheese
- 100 g pecorino cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 onions
- 250 g cherry tomatoes
- 1 heaped tbsp capers
- 100 g black olives
- Breadcrumbs
- Olive oil
3 Parts / Sections
The recipe is broken down into 3 parts which are:
1) Base
2) Filling
- 100 g pecorino cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 onions
- 250 g cherry tomatoes
- 1 heaped tbsp capers
- 100 g black olives
- Breadcrumbs
- Olive oil
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| Figure 8. Pitta Di Patate |
3 Parts / Sections
The recipe is broken down into 3 parts which are:
1) Base
2) Filling
3) Toppings
1) Base (dough)
The base is made from boiled (2 kg) potatoes that are peeled and cut into chunks. It is then mixed with (200 g) flour, (2) eggs and two types of cheese which are (100 g) Grana and (100 g) Pecorino.
2) Filling
(3) Onions, (250 g) cherry tomatoes and (1 heaped) capers are cooked in olive oil in a pan for 10 minutes. The (100 g) black olives are added later.
A deep sided baking tray is oiled with olive oil, then layered with potato mash (dough), followed by the filling and then more potato mash (dough). The surface of the pie is roughened with a fork.
3) Topping
1) Base (dough)
The base is made from boiled (2 kg) potatoes that are peeled and cut into chunks. It is then mixed with (200 g) flour, (2) eggs and two types of cheese which are (100 g) Grana and (100 g) Pecorino.
2) Filling
(3) Onions, (250 g) cherry tomatoes and (1 heaped) capers are cooked in olive oil in a pan for 10 minutes. The (100 g) black olives are added later.
A deep sided baking tray is oiled with olive oil, then layered with potato mash (dough), followed by the filling and then more potato mash (dough). The surface of the pie is roughened with a fork.
3) Topping
At the surface / top of the pie, olive oil is drizzled and some breadcrumbs are added.
The pie is baked at 200C for 30 minutes in the oven. Then it is ready.
Style and Visual References
I noticed that these colours are generally soft, faded and natural tones, which create a sense of calmness that matches the personality of the grandma in the video.
These soft colours also help viewers absorb the information and steps of the recipe more easily without it feeling overwhelming or messy. Having a colour palette also helps create visual consistency throughout the poster.
2) Illustration style
For the overall illustration / visual style, I decided to keep the Italian vibe while maintaining clarity. From my research, the style is mostly flat with a slightly hand drawn feel. It uses organic shapes rather than geometric ones, which reflects a more relaxed personality.
References for illustration style:
I found that the illustrations and the visuals match well with the the colour palettes, as both are soft, lively and slightly loose in style
With these elements, it helps to make the poster more engaging and visually appealing.
3) Typography / Fonts
For the Typography style, I looked for fonts that are playful yet clean, reflecting the relaxed and casual energy of Italians design.
Italy Typography often uses fun, curvy and flowing styles wthat represent a free and easy personality. However, I made sure that the fonts are still readable and clear, as instructable posters priorities readability the most
References for typography:
The pie is baked at 200C for 30 minutes in the oven. Then it is ready.
Style and Visual References
Based on the Pitta Di Patate recipe video, I gathered some style and visual references from Italy, since the dish originates from there. The overall Italian style is very warm, relaxed and timeless. Since the "chef" is a grandma, I also tried to reflect her soft and homely personality into the instructable poster. Based on these observations, I decided to focus on three main categories to develop a consistent visual style for the instructable poster which are: 1) Colour palette 2) Illustration style 3) Typography / Fonts 1) Colour theme The main idea is that the recipe is based in Italy. From this, I took great inspiration from both the country and the dish itself. Based on my research, Italian colours are usually very warm and earthy, which match their relaxed and free spirited personality. References for colour theme:
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| Figure 10. Inspiration Italian colour palette #2 |
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| Figure 11. Inspiration Italian colour palette #3 |
I noticed that these colours are generally soft, faded and natural tones, which create a sense of calmness that matches the personality of the grandma in the video.
These soft colours also help viewers absorb the information and steps of the recipe more easily without it feeling overwhelming or messy. Having a colour palette also helps create visual consistency throughout the poster.
2) Illustration style
For the overall illustration / visual style, I decided to keep the Italian vibe while maintaining clarity. From my research, the style is mostly flat with a slightly hand drawn feel. It uses organic shapes rather than geometric ones, which reflects a more relaxed personality.
References for illustration style:
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| Figure 12. Inspiration Italian illustration visuals #1 |
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| Figure 13. Inspiration Italian illustration visuals #2 |
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| Figure 14. Inspiration Italian illustration visuals #3 |
I found that the illustrations and the visuals match well with the the colour palettes, as both are soft, lively and slightly loose in style
With these elements, it helps to make the poster more engaging and visually appealing.
3) Typography / Fonts
For the Typography style, I looked for fonts that are playful yet clean, reflecting the relaxed and casual energy of Italians design.
Italy Typography often uses fun, curvy and flowing styles wthat represent a free and easy personality. However, I made sure that the fonts are still readable and clear, as instructable posters priorities readability the most
References for typography:
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| Figure 15. Inspiration Italian typography #1 |
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| Figure 16. Inspiration Italian typography #2 |
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| Figure 17. Inspiration Italian typography #3 |
IDEATION
Layout Planning
For the layout, I decided to organise the information into a 3 x 3 grid structure so that the information is clear and easy to follow.
Explanation:
On the left side column, I placed the ingredients and divided them into categories, which are Base (dough), Filling and Topping. This helps viewers quickly understand what is needed for each part of the recipe.
In the middle section, I used illustrations to show how the dish is made. These visual act as a guide so viewers can understand the process more easily without relying too much on text.
On the right side column, I added the step by step instructions. The text supports the visuals in the middle, making viewers to follow the recipe clearly from start to finish.
This layout helps guide the viewer's eye from ingredients to process then instructions, making the infographic more structured and easy to understand.
Development
1) Making layout
With the sketch base completed, I used it as a reference and created a cleaner version of the layout. With the help of grids, I was able to divide the sections properly and keep everthing aligned.
For the background and base colours, I used a palette of warm and soft tones to match the Italian visual style. These colours also help bring out the soft and homely personality of the grandma, making the overall design feel more welcoming and calm.
2) Drawing visuals
For the visuals, I decided to use a simple hand drawn like style with organic shapes to reflects a more relaxed personality.
For the colour palettes, I continued using the same tones based on my earlier research to maintain consistency and bring out a soft and lively style.
I also used some visual references from the internet when drawing each element to make sure that the illustration remain consistent throughout the poster.
3) Adding Texts
All of the text are downloaded form dafont.com. The fonts chosen follow a playful yet clean style, reflecting the relaxed and casual energy of Italians design. However, readability was still the main priority when selecting the fonts.
All text and instrcutions were added and arranged in Adobe Illustrator to ensure proper alignment and clarity.
During the development stage, I also focused on refining the layout to make sure the information is clear and balanced. I adjusted the placement of the elements so that the visuals, text and ingredients work together without making the poster look too crowded.
I also make sure that the illustrations and text are aligned properly so the viewers can follow the process smoothly. Small adjustments such as spacing, sizing and positioning were made to improve readability and overall visual flow.
Information Design Principles
I applied the L.A.T.C.H principles by Richard Saul Wurman to organise data and content based on 5 key methods which are Location, Alphabet, Time, Category and Hierarchy.
For this instructable poster I only used Alphabet, Time, Category and Hierarchy.
Alphabet
The ingredient sections are arranged as Base, Filling and Topping, which also follows a simple alphabetical order (B to F to T). This helps create a more structured and logical arrangement.
Time
The instrcutable poster follows a top to bottom flow. This helps to show the process in order from base to filling to topping, so the viewers can follow the steps easily.
Category
The information is grouped into categories such as ingredients (left column), visuals (middle column) and instructions (right column). This make the layout more organised and easier to navigate.
Hierarchy
Hierarchy is shown through the used of gradient background. The top section uses the lightest cream for the base (first step), the middle uses a slightly darker tone for the filling (second step) and the bottom uses the darkest tone for the topping (final step). This visually guides the viewer through the order of the process.
Layout Planning
For the layout, I decided to organise the information into a 3 x 3 grid structure so that the information is clear and easy to follow.
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| Figure 18. Sketch base |
On the left side column, I placed the ingredients and divided them into categories, which are Base (dough), Filling and Topping. This helps viewers quickly understand what is needed for each part of the recipe.
In the middle section, I used illustrations to show how the dish is made. These visual act as a guide so viewers can understand the process more easily without relying too much on text.
On the right side column, I added the step by step instructions. The text supports the visuals in the middle, making viewers to follow the recipe clearly from start to finish.
This layout helps guide the viewer's eye from ingredients to process then instructions, making the infographic more structured and easy to understand.
Development
1) Making layout
With the sketch base completed, I used it as a reference and created a cleaner version of the layout. With the help of grids, I was able to divide the sections properly and keep everthing aligned.
For the background and base colours, I used a palette of warm and soft tones to match the Italian visual style. These colours also help bring out the soft and homely personality of the grandma, making the overall design feel more welcoming and calm.
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| Figure 19. Colour reference |
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| Figure 20. Colour palette taken |
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| Figure 21. Finished Layout |
2) Drawing visuals
For the visuals, I decided to use a simple hand drawn like style with organic shapes to reflects a more relaxed personality.
For the colour palettes, I continued using the same tones based on my earlier research to maintain consistency and bring out a soft and lively style.
I also used some visual references from the internet when drawing each element to make sure that the illustration remain consistent throughout the poster.
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| Figure 22. Drawing references |
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| Figure 23. Finished illustrations / visuals |
3) Adding Texts
All of the text are downloaded form dafont.com. The fonts chosen follow a playful yet clean style, reflecting the relaxed and casual energy of Italians design. However, readability was still the main priority when selecting the fonts.
All text and instrcutions were added and arranged in Adobe Illustrator to ensure proper alignment and clarity.
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| Figure 24. Fonts used #1 |
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| Figure 25. Fonts used #2 |
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| Figure 26. Fonts used #3 |
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| Figure 27. Text layers in Adobe Illustrator |
During the development stage, I also focused on refining the layout to make sure the information is clear and balanced. I adjusted the placement of the elements so that the visuals, text and ingredients work together without making the poster look too crowded.
I also make sure that the illustrations and text are aligned properly so the viewers can follow the process smoothly. Small adjustments such as spacing, sizing and positioning were made to improve readability and overall visual flow.
I applied the L.A.T.C.H principles by Richard Saul Wurman to organise data and content based on 5 key methods which are Location, Alphabet, Time, Category and Hierarchy.
For this instructable poster I only used Alphabet, Time, Category and Hierarchy.
Alphabet
The ingredient sections are arranged as Base, Filling and Topping, which also follows a simple alphabetical order (B to F to T). This helps create a more structured and logical arrangement.
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| Figure 28. Alphabet principle |
Time
The instrcutable poster follows a top to bottom flow. This helps to show the process in order from base to filling to topping, so the viewers can follow the steps easily.
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| Figure 29. Time principle |
Category
The information is grouped into categories such as ingredients (left column), visuals (middle column) and instructions (right column). This make the layout more organised and easier to navigate.
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| Figure 30. Category principle #1 |
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| Figure 31. Category principle #2 |
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| Figure 32. Category principle #3 |
Hierarchy
Hierarchy is shown through the used of gradient background. The top section uses the lightest cream for the base (first step), the middle uses a slightly darker tone for the filling (second step) and the bottom uses the darkest tone for the topping (final step). This visually guides the viewer through the order of the process.
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| Figure 33. Hierarchy principle #1 |
WHAT TECHNIQUES I'VE USED:
The infographic poster was created in Adobe Illustrator using a grid system to organise the layout and ensure proper alignment. A 3 x 3 structure was used to separate the ingredients, visuals and instructions clearly. Simple hand drawn illustrations with organic shapes were used to represent the process. A consistent warm colour palette was applied to match the Italian theme. Typography was kept playful yet readable and visual hierarchy was shown through size, placement and gradient background to guide the viewer through the steps.
FEEDBACK
All designs were sent to the lecturer for some feedback and some improvements.
Project 1, Part 1: Instructable Poster
The lecturer mentioned that I needed to remove the rectangle shape below the main title since it was distracting from it. He also suggested moving the text "by Pasta Grannies" just right below the main title to follow the visual hierarchy more clearly. In addition, he recommended adding fire and steam elements to the boiling potatoes to better show the cooking process visually.
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| Figure 34. Before feedback (Instrcutable Poster) |
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| Figure 35. After feedback (Instrcutable Poster) |
WHAT I IMPROVED
After receiving feedback, I removed the unnecessary rectangle shape and adjusted the placement of the text to improve the visual hierarchy of the poster. I also added fire and steam elements to make the boiling process clearer and more visually engaging.
WHAT COULD BE DONE BETTER
I could strengthen the details of certain elements to make the visuals more polished. I could also improve the overall consistency and alignment so the layout looks more balanced and clean.
FINAL OUTCOME
Project 1, Part 1: Instructable Poster
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| Figure 36. Final Instructable Poster |
REFLECTION
Experience
This project was a good learning experience for me, although it was quite time consuming because it needed a lot of planning and research. I had to carefully analyze the recipe video and break it down into simple steps before designing the poster. I enjoyed this project because it gave me the opportunity to be creative while also focusing on clarity and structure.
Observations
Throughout the process, I realised that designing an instrcutable poster is not just about making it look visually appealing, but also about how clearly the information is presented. Organising the layout, choosing the right visuals and deciding how much information to include took a lot of experimentation. I also noticed that small details such a s spacing, alignment and colour choices can greatly affect readability.
Experience
This project was a good learning experience for me, although it was quite time consuming because it needed a lot of planning and research. I had to carefully analyze the recipe video and break it down into simple steps before designing the poster. I enjoyed this project because it gave me the opportunity to be creative while also focusing on clarity and structure.
Observations
Throughout the process, I realised that designing an instrcutable poster is not just about making it look visually appealing, but also about how clearly the information is presented. Organising the layout, choosing the right visuals and deciding how much information to include took a lot of experimentation. I also noticed that small details such a s spacing, alignment and colour choices can greatly affect readability.
Findings
From this project, I learned how to simplify complex information into clear visual communication. I also improved my understanding of layout planning, visual hierarchy and information design principle such as L.A.T.C.H. Overall, this project helped me understand how design can be used to make information more engaging and easier to understand.
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