Visual Communication with Infographics
in Spain

Summer 2010

5 weeks (mid May to mid June)

NOTE: This program runs in even-numbered years; next offering will be in 2010; please continue to check the Web for updates

Sponsored by the School of Journalism in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

Information graphics, or infographics, are visual presentations of data or other content that explain something that words alone cannot do. They combine visual tools —drawings, diagrams, charts, maps, photos, timelines, etc.— with words to communicate ideas and concepts such as how something works, how it changed over time or how it relates to something else, often much better than the words alone can.

For ten years instructor Karl Gude created infographics for Newsweek magazine showing readers things like how the planes hit The World Trade Center, why hurricane Katrina destroyed News Orleans, where and how many U.S. forces have been killed or injured in Iraq and what happened during the close election between George Bush and Al Gore. (See some of Karl’s infographics.)

But infographics are used in many other industries besides journalism. Scientists and other researchers use them to describe their findings. Dr. Francis Crick, who, with James Watson, discovered DNA, had to ask his artist wife to sketch the original double helix for them, something they themselves should have been able to do. (See her original graphic.)

Infographics are also widely used in courtrooms where they are used to explain everything from complex family relationships to car accidents. Medical illustrators, corporate America, financial institutions, textbook publishers and many other industries all rely heavily on infographics. But even the executive standing in a boardroom trying to explain her new, complex restructuring idea for the company could, with a little training, be able to walk up to the white board and sketch it out.

Information graphics have become essential in the communication of ideas, knowledge and data. Spanish newspapers are internationally known for being the best in the world when it comes to innovation and creativity in the field of information graphics, so this is an opportunity to learn how they do it. Instructor Karl Gude is good friends with many of them, and they’ll stop by and we’ll visit them where they work.

Where does it take place?

We will use two cities as our home base, Pamplona first, and then Madrid, and will spend about 2 ½ weeks in each.

PAMPLONA
The University of Navarra
The first 2 ½ weeks of the five-week program will begin in the charming and historic city of Pamplona (sorry, not while the bulls are running!) located in northern Spain near the French border. The University of Navarra, a leader in the study of information graphics, has invited us to use their classrooms and computers and the program will include Spanish students, too, which is a great way for you to meet some local people. The university is home to the world’s only annual conference in the field of infographics and hosts the largest professional and student competition every year.

Bilbao Excursion: We will spend a day visiting the fantastic Guggenheim Museum, designed by architect Frank Gehry, in the city of Bilbao. The museum celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.

Madrid
The University of San Pablo
The University of San Pablo is located in the heart of this exciting city and is the setting for the second half of our program. The Prado museum, the Presidential Palace, the old Plaza Mayor and other cultural sights are just a subway ride away. Madrid’s two largest newspapers, El pais and El Mundo, create some of the coolest graphics for both print and online and we will tour their offices as well as have some of their best talent come and talk to us.

Toledo and Segovia Excursions:
Two of Spain’s most ancient cities, Toledo and Segovia, are nearby. Visiting either of these cities is like stepping centuries back in time. Their cobblestone streets are narrow and each has a monumental cathedral in its center. In Toledo, a 30-minute train ride away, you’ll take an incredibly fun Segway tour (optional) and go where cars can’t, a classic meeting of the old and the new. In Segovia, about 90 minutes away by bus, you’ll see a massive aqueduct built by the Romans almost 2,000 years ago as well as tour Alcazar Tower, one of the most picturesque and famous castles in the world (; ).

Most of the places you will visit are shown in a short video shot last summer as instructor Karl Gude and his family scouted out the program. The beach city of San Sebastian, though, is not part of the official program, but is definitely a place you might want to travel to over a weekend.

Be sure to check out some great photos of the area in Karl’s Web album.

What can I study?

In this five-week, hands-on program you will learn how to:

• think visually to determine what information can and should be “seen”
• research your content and to interpret it using elements like lines, shapes, colors, direction, scale, space, proportion, comparison and story-telling
• design and package these visual elements into narrative frameworks that present the data clearly and logically

You will hear from professionals through a series of lectures and discussions and visit where they work.

Students will be required to enroll in six (6) credits from the following courses:

Coursework and lectures will be in English.

Classes will meet in the mornings. Afternoons will be used for exploring and research. Some full days will be occupied by field trips, such as our trip to Madrid’s overwhelming Prado Museum.

No computers will be used in the program, unless you choose to use them. Workstations, with Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator, will be available, but this is not a class in learning software. You will need to bring simple drawing materials, such as pads, pencils and erasers. If you are uncomfortable drawing, so much the better! This program is not about one’s ability to draw, but how to elucidate visually, which can be done with stick figures if necessary (that’s what the above-mentioned executive in the boardroom would do).

This course is for anyone who believes that words can’t do it all. That said, if you DO like to draw and design, this course will challenge you enormously, and you’ll have a ball doing it. We’ll visually explain wonderful things, like how the Romans brought water using an aqueduct system in Segovia 2,000 years ago.

What are the requirements?

Students from Michigan State University, as well as students from other colleges and universities, are eligible to apply.

Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.5 at the time of application.  Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Living quarters are currently being arranged, but students will share clean and comfortable rooms in hostels, apartments or dorms.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Karl Gude, primary instructor
School of Journalism
Phone: (517) 353-6430
E-mail:

Before joining MSU’s School of Journalism in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences in 2006, instructor Karl Gude, an artist, was the Director of Information Graphics at several news organizations including Newsweek magazine, the Associated Press and the New York Daily News.  Karl brings almost 30 years of professional graphics experience to the table and has traveled to Spain many times, including to cover the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Karl, who grew up in Colombia, is also fluent in Spanish.

Karl is anything but boring! His infographics classes at MSU’s School of Journalism are as fun as they are unpredictable, and his class in Spain will be no different! To teach map-making, he conducts a campus-wide treasure hunt. To teach 3D diagramming, he fakes a robbery in the Sparty's store in the Comm Arts building. His lectures have been a fury of wild ideas, bad acting, lousy jokes, pantomime, tears, excitement, crazy visuals and wonderful surprises.

Karl is also a painter and children’s book illustrator. His cartoons and drawings have appeared regularly in the New York Times, including on their OpEd page.

Watch a short video interview with Karl.

See some of Karl’s other artwork (paintings, drawings, cartoons and Illustrations).

Cheryl Pell
School of Journalism
Phone: (517) 353-6761

A fabulous news design instructor from the School of Journalism and director of the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA), Cheryl will take part in the Madrid portion of the course. She received the Scholastic Journalism Division’s Educator of the Year award in 2006. Go Cheryl!

In addition to the MSU leaders, the program is enhanced by various professional speakers. Spanish newspapers create some of the best infographics in the world and Karl is good friends with the people who make them. The graphics directors from the two largest newspapers in Spain, El Pais and El Mundo, will both be coming to speak to the class and create projects for the students to do and we will go and visit them where they work.

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early. It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

See the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook for further health information and recommendations.

How much does it cost?

The program fee in 2008 was $3,401 and included the following:

• application fee ($100)
• deposit ($200)
• pre-departure orientation
• accommodations
• accident and sickness insurance
• field trips

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

• MSU tuition and fees*
• airfare
• meals
• art supplies
• passport application fee
• visa application fees (if applicable)
• pre-departure doctor visits
• pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
• personal spending money

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs are estimated at $5,789 (US08).  Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate, regardless of state of residence.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university.  If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadline to apply for these scholarships is March 1st for summer programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by March 1st for summer programs.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.