How Not to Design a Timeline

Don’t create an actual line representing time.

Don’t put it on a wall.

Don’t make it flat.

Don’t make a straight line, if you must have a line.

Don’t have each event point at a spot in time.

Don’t use parallel tracks to show your history relating to world history.

Don’t have each inch represent one fixed unit of time.

Don’t show the same type of information for each entry.

Don’t make it half text — make it no text.

Why?

Because if you make one with an actual line, on a wall, flat, with every event pointing to a spot, with parallel tracks, with each inch representing a unit of time, and every entry with similar information …

… you’ve just made every timeline ever.

With that in mind, here’s one last idea:

Don’t make one at all.

After all, do they really pass the Mommy Mommy Test?

Here’s the thing:
Someone will very likely suggest a timeline in your next project.

If a timeline is in your future (heh, see what I did there?), you can make it more interesting with some of the “don’ts” above.

Warmly,
Jonathan