Lin Wilson has been an illustrator, art director and designer for the past 21 years. During that time he's held positions in advertising, corporate communications and information design. in 2002, he co-founded Funnel Incorporated with his partner Lori Wilson.

01.31.07

Form Follows Data

What's currently your favorite site/project? Information Aesthetics.

What's the subject/topic of it? It's about how data is visualized across multiple disciplines—print, presentations, live motion, Web sites, etc.

What's so great about it? It's a constantly updated blog showing examples of the kind of information design that helps people understand complexity. Some are successful, some not so. But since information design can transfer reams of data into a single picture, you can't help but appreciate even the half-successful solutions, many of which are quite unusual.

What makes it technically compelling? It's not over-designed. Many design sites get a bit carried away with their own interface. This one just works.

Is there anything that could make it better? Not really. It's a bit heavy on ads, but I think the creator deserves the income.

What's your job? I'm a creative director at Funnel Incorporated.

If you have a degree in what field is it? I have a BFA in design.

How did you get involved in this industry? My two brothers had active hobbies (horses and backpacking). I had one too: I liked to draw narrative pictures of family functions. I guess you could call it crude visual journalism.

What's your biggest Web (design) turn-off? I have two: 1) For any given company, a typical start-up site almost always includes photographs of "white collar office people" sporting fashion eyewear. I cringe at the overuse of these types of photos; everyone knows they're fake employees. 2) Flash-based intros for creative firms. They get old after one second. They can't make the "skip intro" button big enough.

Who, in this industry (or not), has been your biggest inspiration? Richard Saul Wurman

What's the weirdest thing you've bought online? A tattered 30 year-old copy of the board game, "Mystery Date." I bought it on eBay for $100.

What do you do in your spare time? Read the first few pages of a book; I love buying and starting them. There's a two-foot-high pile of them on my nightstand.

What music are you listening to right now? "Let's Go" by The Feelies.

What product/gadget can you not live without? My digital drawing tablet.

What's your dream computer set-up? A beefed-up Mac with Wacom's Cintiq 21UX interactive pen display.