Critique of timeline aesthetic












1















I am working with this timeline as seen below. I'll try to explain it a bit:




  • Each circle represents an event.

  • There are no tick marks because it's not a "mission-critical" kind of
    data set.

  • We just need a rough idea of events. Also, I have omitted the text
    for clarity.

  • Desired aesthetic is still a professional one though


enter image description here
My personal take on my own work is good for the most part. I like how the colors "jump" out of the gray background rectangles.



However, the edges of the timeline (far left, far right) seem harsh. I tried capping them off with semi-circles but that resulted in a too "playful" kind of look. It seems adding too many circular elements tends to make it look less professional -- at least to my eyes.



Question



Is there a way to keep the rectangular shape of the rectangles without seeming to harsh?



Note: Feel free to critique other parts as well.










share|improve this question



























    1















    I am working with this timeline as seen below. I'll try to explain it a bit:




    • Each circle represents an event.

    • There are no tick marks because it's not a "mission-critical" kind of
      data set.

    • We just need a rough idea of events. Also, I have omitted the text
      for clarity.

    • Desired aesthetic is still a professional one though


    enter image description here
    My personal take on my own work is good for the most part. I like how the colors "jump" out of the gray background rectangles.



    However, the edges of the timeline (far left, far right) seem harsh. I tried capping them off with semi-circles but that resulted in a too "playful" kind of look. It seems adding too many circular elements tends to make it look less professional -- at least to my eyes.



    Question



    Is there a way to keep the rectangular shape of the rectangles without seeming to harsh?



    Note: Feel free to critique other parts as well.










    share|improve this question

























      1












      1








      1








      I am working with this timeline as seen below. I'll try to explain it a bit:




      • Each circle represents an event.

      • There are no tick marks because it's not a "mission-critical" kind of
        data set.

      • We just need a rough idea of events. Also, I have omitted the text
        for clarity.

      • Desired aesthetic is still a professional one though


      enter image description here
      My personal take on my own work is good for the most part. I like how the colors "jump" out of the gray background rectangles.



      However, the edges of the timeline (far left, far right) seem harsh. I tried capping them off with semi-circles but that resulted in a too "playful" kind of look. It seems adding too many circular elements tends to make it look less professional -- at least to my eyes.



      Question



      Is there a way to keep the rectangular shape of the rectangles without seeming to harsh?



      Note: Feel free to critique other parts as well.










      share|improve this question














      I am working with this timeline as seen below. I'll try to explain it a bit:




      • Each circle represents an event.

      • There are no tick marks because it's not a "mission-critical" kind of
        data set.

      • We just need a rough idea of events. Also, I have omitted the text
        for clarity.

      • Desired aesthetic is still a professional one though


      enter image description here
      My personal take on my own work is good for the most part. I like how the colors "jump" out of the gray background rectangles.



      However, the edges of the timeline (far left, far right) seem harsh. I tried capping them off with semi-circles but that resulted in a too "playful" kind of look. It seems adding too many circular elements tends to make it look less professional -- at least to my eyes.



      Question



      Is there a way to keep the rectangular shape of the rectangles without seeming to harsh?



      Note: Feel free to critique other parts as well.







      critique






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




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      asked 1 hour ago









      Arash HowaidaArash Howaida

      1976




      1976






















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          I don't feel the colors "jump out" in any way. I think the contrast ratio is far too low. for everything other than the darkest blue. In fact,that light blue and light yellow are nearly impossible to see. The variation between the darker blues is so minute, one would need to be specifically looking for that aspect to pick up on it.



          If it were my work, I'd alter colors so the contrast is much, much greater between the bar and the circles. However, without the full picture, this is all merely conjecture. Labels may make the circles work better than the mage presented here.



          As for rectangles not looking like rectangles....



          It's all really matter of opinion.



          I might cap the ends to provide definition:



          enter image description here



          Or you could fade them....



          enter image description here



          It's very difficult to give suggestions without the complete context. A specific solution may be readily apparent when looking at the entire design as opposed to one minute piece.






          share|improve this answer































            1














            No need to squeeze the dots inside the line. I would decrease the thickness of the line and make the dots larger, also play with the colors a bit, as what you have doesn't provide enough contrast between the line and the dots. Remove that pattern behind the timeline to make it look more professional and go with a plain white background. Clean it up.



            enter image description here






            share|improve this answer


























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              2 Answers
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              2 Answers
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              oldest

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              1














              I don't feel the colors "jump out" in any way. I think the contrast ratio is far too low. for everything other than the darkest blue. In fact,that light blue and light yellow are nearly impossible to see. The variation between the darker blues is so minute, one would need to be specifically looking for that aspect to pick up on it.



              If it were my work, I'd alter colors so the contrast is much, much greater between the bar and the circles. However, without the full picture, this is all merely conjecture. Labels may make the circles work better than the mage presented here.



              As for rectangles not looking like rectangles....



              It's all really matter of opinion.



              I might cap the ends to provide definition:



              enter image description here



              Or you could fade them....



              enter image description here



              It's very difficult to give suggestions without the complete context. A specific solution may be readily apparent when looking at the entire design as opposed to one minute piece.






              share|improve this answer




























                1














                I don't feel the colors "jump out" in any way. I think the contrast ratio is far too low. for everything other than the darkest blue. In fact,that light blue and light yellow are nearly impossible to see. The variation between the darker blues is so minute, one would need to be specifically looking for that aspect to pick up on it.



                If it were my work, I'd alter colors so the contrast is much, much greater between the bar and the circles. However, without the full picture, this is all merely conjecture. Labels may make the circles work better than the mage presented here.



                As for rectangles not looking like rectangles....



                It's all really matter of opinion.



                I might cap the ends to provide definition:



                enter image description here



                Or you could fade them....



                enter image description here



                It's very difficult to give suggestions without the complete context. A specific solution may be readily apparent when looking at the entire design as opposed to one minute piece.






                share|improve this answer


























                  1












                  1








                  1







                  I don't feel the colors "jump out" in any way. I think the contrast ratio is far too low. for everything other than the darkest blue. In fact,that light blue and light yellow are nearly impossible to see. The variation between the darker blues is so minute, one would need to be specifically looking for that aspect to pick up on it.



                  If it were my work, I'd alter colors so the contrast is much, much greater between the bar and the circles. However, without the full picture, this is all merely conjecture. Labels may make the circles work better than the mage presented here.



                  As for rectangles not looking like rectangles....



                  It's all really matter of opinion.



                  I might cap the ends to provide definition:



                  enter image description here



                  Or you could fade them....



                  enter image description here



                  It's very difficult to give suggestions without the complete context. A specific solution may be readily apparent when looking at the entire design as opposed to one minute piece.






                  share|improve this answer













                  I don't feel the colors "jump out" in any way. I think the contrast ratio is far too low. for everything other than the darkest blue. In fact,that light blue and light yellow are nearly impossible to see. The variation between the darker blues is so minute, one would need to be specifically looking for that aspect to pick up on it.



                  If it were my work, I'd alter colors so the contrast is much, much greater between the bar and the circles. However, without the full picture, this is all merely conjecture. Labels may make the circles work better than the mage presented here.



                  As for rectangles not looking like rectangles....



                  It's all really matter of opinion.



                  I might cap the ends to provide definition:



                  enter image description here



                  Or you could fade them....



                  enter image description here



                  It's very difficult to give suggestions without the complete context. A specific solution may be readily apparent when looking at the entire design as opposed to one minute piece.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 35 mins ago









                  ScottScott

                  151k14209424




                  151k14209424























                      1














                      No need to squeeze the dots inside the line. I would decrease the thickness of the line and make the dots larger, also play with the colors a bit, as what you have doesn't provide enough contrast between the line and the dots. Remove that pattern behind the timeline to make it look more professional and go with a plain white background. Clean it up.



                      enter image description here






                      share|improve this answer






























                        1














                        No need to squeeze the dots inside the line. I would decrease the thickness of the line and make the dots larger, also play with the colors a bit, as what you have doesn't provide enough contrast between the line and the dots. Remove that pattern behind the timeline to make it look more professional and go with a plain white background. Clean it up.



                        enter image description here






                        share|improve this answer




























                          1












                          1








                          1







                          No need to squeeze the dots inside the line. I would decrease the thickness of the line and make the dots larger, also play with the colors a bit, as what you have doesn't provide enough contrast between the line and the dots. Remove that pattern behind the timeline to make it look more professional and go with a plain white background. Clean it up.



                          enter image description here






                          share|improve this answer















                          No need to squeeze the dots inside the line. I would decrease the thickness of the line and make the dots larger, also play with the colors a bit, as what you have doesn't provide enough contrast between the line and the dots. Remove that pattern behind the timeline to make it look more professional and go with a plain white background. Clean it up.



                          enter image description here







                          share|improve this answer














                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer








                          edited 29 mins ago

























                          answered 34 mins ago









                          LucianLucian

                          14.8k103265




                          14.8k103265






























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