Module 1

What is Information Design?

According to Isabel Meirelles in the book Design For Information, Information design is “broadly used to describe communication design practices in which the main purpose is to inform.” (Meirelles 11) This is a very basic definition, but it is a starting point at the many iterations of this “craft.” I will use an analogy of “Cooking food” which represents Information Design. There are many types of cooking, but the basics are the same. We use The information itself as the ingredients, tools and equipment (design elements) and recipes/techniques (design principals) to create the end product. Poorly cooked(badly designed) food will not be acceptable to the guest(viewer). In information design, the visuals must be clear and concise and by using design fundamentals to present an attractive, well thought out piece.(and delicious)

In Kim Baers book Information Design Workbook, she talks about how information design is an emerging term and has various descriptions of what it is depending on who is describing it. There are different types of information design in different fields.
Some of the fields include graphic design, user experience design, and interaction design. Each has their subcategory, but the common link is that they have information that must ensure effective communication of this information(Baer 13) Its a re-shuffling, reorganization of this information to present it in a more meaningful and presentable form using graphics, interactivity, user-centric ways or combinations thereof. Information design helps with displaying data that would otherwise be almost impossible to decipher such as science, historical or business reports, by using charts, maps and diagrams to further the understanding of what is being represented. Some more examples of information design are Visual instructions, wayfinding signages, even the way our bills and financial statements are viewed. Using design elements and design principals this information can be taken much further. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words, maybe even a million if done right.

In this ever-evolving digital age we are bombarded with information all around us, and it is up to the designer to optimize the display and function of this information. There is also another commonality that the term Information Design is changing and evolving.





References:

https://www.independence.edu/blog/information-design.  Independent University
By Staff Writer.  Published on January 25, 2017. Accessed Jan 24,2019

Baer, Kim. Information Design Workbook. Rockport Publishers. 2008

Meirelles, Isabel. Design for Information. Rockport Publishers 2013