Seeking Proposals

Submit proposals by July 10 to create a series of analytical information graphics.

A. Purpose

The purpose of this contract is to obtain the services of specialists in information graphics to design a series of informative, innovative and entertaining data graphics as the centerpiece for a new publication of data and analysis.

B. Background

The East-West Center in Washington seeks proposals from specialists in information graphics design to work with Center staff to create an online and print publication series of innovative, professional quality information graphics to accompany short research articles. The specialist(s) will be contracted to work closely with Center staff to refine data and build information graphics based on previously acquired data. The specialists will incorporate Center staff suggestions of content and/or form and will also offer recommendations relevant to information graphics best practices.

The online and print publication will consist of a graphics component and a 300-500 word essay which explains and/or comments on the graphic. The Center will provide raw datasets to the contractor. The Contractor may be required to refine or process data in various ways, as requested by the Center. Written analysis will be provided to the Contractor either before or during the graphic design process. Data will vary in scope and complexity; some will be state-by-state, others will be country-by-country, still others may be country-to-state. Datasets are not yet finalized, so the contract proposal should be flexible to account for varying degrees of work required for each Graphic.

Examples of the types of Graphics sought include:

• New York Times “Op-Chart” feature (such as http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/opinion/24gibson.html)
• Foreign Policy magazine “Prime Numbers” feature (such as http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4679)
• GOOD magazine “Transparency” feature (http://www.good.is/departments/transparency)
• Many examples from Edward Tufte, including Alfred Barr’s “Cubism and Abstract Art” (http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0001TV&topic_id=1&topic=a)
• Wired magazine’s “When Bots Attack” (particularly using the map: http://www.wired.com/politics/security/magazine/15-09/ff_estonia_bots)

Center staff may have initial ideas on graphics but will look to contractor to provide guidance on innovative, effective, professional designs. The design process will be iterative; it is likely that several rounds of revisions will be necessary between the contractor and Center staff, especially at the start of the project. After reviews of draft/working designs from contractor, Center staff may ask contractor to incorporate some additional minor elements.

The series will cover topics in economics, politics, demographics, history and culture. For the purpose of this request, “Graphic” refers to an individual information graphic final product, based on a single dataset. “Series” refers to the overall information graphics project, encompassing all Graphics and branding. “Center” refers to the East-West Center.

C. For more information

For full proposal details, please download the complete proposal request document (PDF)

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