Module One: What is Information Design?

Communication   Designing Information   Solving Problems   Selling Ideas

Logos   Icons   Apps   Branding    Graphics   Shortcuts   Pictures  
 

The Industrial Revolution paved the way for the Information Age and technology provided the tools for an information explosion. Logos and corporate branding became desktop shortcuts, leading to icons, and then apps. A once intricate corporate branding strategy, with complex designs, has evolved into a small icon used as phone apps, internet advertising, or tag lines on email messages. Technology bridged the generation gap and provided communication methods tied to gadgets designed to peak everyone’s interests, with no age limitations. Technology is a critical component of communication; Information is everywhere and interfaces are plentiful. Nanotechnology provides finite chip designs that facilitate new and improved devices which are smaller than previous models. The Internet provides countless information sources to sync devices. Streamlined communication, using a vast array of sources and data streams, is necessary for organizations to remain competitive. “Companies in every sector understand the need for using information design practices to differentiate themselves and gain strategic advantage” (Baer, p. 20).

Information design is essentially the presentation of data in a way that coveys useful and meaningful information. There are a plethora of sources that define the term and different professions that work within the discipline. In the Information Design Workbook, Baer refers to a definition of Information design from the Society for Technical Communication’s (STC) special interest group as being “the translating [of] complex, unorganized, or unstructured data into valuable, meaningful information” (Baer, p. 12). In his article, Information Design: The Understanding Discipline, Dirk Knemeyer defines it this way, “Information design is the integrator that brings other disciplines together to create excellent information solutions.” Despite any confusion or debate concerning definitions and meaning, it is clear that Information Design is about efficient communication.

The disciplines that have come together within the field of information design are Graphic Design, Information Architect, Interaction Design, User Experience Design, Usability Specialties, Human Factors Specialties, Human Computer Interaction Specialties, and Plan Language Specialties (Baer, pgs. 14-15). These specific practices all work with information in an effort to convey a message. Research, user experience, interactions with peripheral devices, products, services and environments, along with visual communication, organization, and interactions with information all encompass aspects of information design.

References

Baer, Kim. Information Design Workbook. Beverly, MA: Rockport Publishers, 2008. Print.

Knemeyer, Dirk. “Information Design: The Understanding Discipline” (2003). Boxes and Arrows. Web. 14 Jan. 2011. <http://www.boxesandarrows.com/view/ information_design_the_understanding_discipline>.

Redish, Janice C. (Ginny). “What is Information Design?” TechnicalCommunication. June 2000, 163-166. Web. 14 Jan. 2011. <http://dwheelersite.com/PDFs/Articles%20for%20Reading%20List/Redish%20What%20Is%20Information%20Design.pdf>.