Module 1 - What is Information Design?

     A simple question, what is information design ? There are many ways to describe what information design truly means, and the fact of the matter is that information design encompasses many related fields that there can be more than one correct answer.

     In my own opinion I believe that information design is the use of visual problem solving and intelligent, common sense, graphic designs to efficiently deliver information to the masses. In my information design class we are reading a book called The Back of the Napkin by Dan Roam, which offers detailed information on what visual problem solving is. Visual problem solving makes delivering any type of information you can think of simple and efficient. By combining this with graphic designers, information architects, usability specialists, user experience designers, and human-computer interaction specialists, it is easy to see why there are so many ways to define information design.

     I offer a perfect example from another book from class called Information Design Workbook by Kim Baer. In this book a perfect example of using visual problem solving and graphic designers is the following signs from page 22 for those of you that have the book at home. Take a look at this sign:

This sign is the epitome of confusion. These signs can be located in busy cities that have different regulations and different times to park and all types of information. This is too confusing for any person to figure out except the person who designed such a thing.





 

Now take a look at a redesigned version of that same sign by using visual problem solving and different information designers to help create a sign that solves the problem of confusion:

 This is exactly what information design encompasses. Any time you look at a website, a sign, a brochure, or a book you are seeing information design at work. I invite you to follow along as I dive deeper into the field of information design throughout the weeks of my class during the fall semester.

Stay tuned,

AP

- Roam, Dan. The Back of The Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures. New York: Portfolio, 2009. Print. 

- Baer, Kim, and Jill Vacarra. Information Design Workbook: Graphic Approaches, Solutions, and Inspiration + 30 Case Studies. Beverly, MA: Rockport, 2008. Print.