Experience Maps: Star Wars Planet Maps

This assignment was a group project that explored information visualization and experience maps. Using HTML5 Canvas, my group created interactive maps based off of Star Wars movies that allows users to visualize multiple dimensions of an experience. Each member collected data on specific topics of Star Wars. Each group member then produced two maps individually, one tangible and one intangible experience dimension. We produced a paper prototype that included descriptions of functionality, interface components, and plans for how our map would be organized, a draft of our maps, and a final version. As a group, we decided how to integrate our maps into one seamless interface.

For my part of the project, I used the Tumult Hype software, which creates web content and animations. I chose to focus on mapping major planets in the second Star Wars trilogy. I began by drawing up prototypes:

I plan on transferring the final project over eventually onto a burner GitHub page. I just have to find it...

Tangible Planet Map:
This tangible map is formatted in the traditional sense of a “location” map, allowing viewers to quickly observe the relative size, location (relative to each other and the Core/Mid/Outer rims delineated by white rings), and colors of planets in the Star Wars galaxy. Planets can also be filtered by appearance in Star Wars movies IV-VI.

Clicking on a specific planet brings up even more detailed information about the planet itself, including size (in km), population, climate, major inhabitants, important battles/events on the planet, etc.

This intangible map is an attempt to portray overarching emotions that the characters and viewers of Star Wars associates with some of the most important planets in the Galaxy. These intangible planets are of different size and filled with different amounts of colors, associated with emotions located in the key to the right.

When selecting a planet, the viewer is brought to a page that focuses on major events that occurred on this planet. Gifs/pictures along with short captions help viewers recall specific points in the plot that correspond to specific emotions.

Planet Map Reflections:
A strength of both my maps is the ability to interact with buttons and hone into information on a specific planet. The plethora of information on my maps also allows viewers to draw their own inferences from the graphics, such as how the emotion of love that arises between Leia and Han occurred on planets with major battles, or how the harsh climate of Hoth added to the emotional loss of the rebel’s defeat.

Some weaknesses are, because of the sheer size of the Star Wars franchise, I decided to limit the planets and events to the second trilogy only. The overall interface of my maps are also not extremely coherent in design or color choice. Additionally, there could have been an option to show all emotions and corresponding colors, however this was an intentional design choice of mine to prevent clutter, but I intend on implementing it in the near future.

I mainly used the Star Wars wikipedia, Wookieepedia, for planet information, as well as the officially released Star Wars galaxy map. Gifs and screenshots are from a fan made tumblr site and a youtube videos.

To be quite honest, i've never watched Star Wars and I don't even like Star Wars. But this was a really fun project to research, design, and create.