From Clear ~ Topics: information design
Information Design
One of my students asked me recently to explain in simple terms what distinguished information design from other types of design and I found myself struggling to provide a clear and concise answer. I wondered if Information Design isn't a funny animal that we all THINK we know what it is we're talking about, but are hard pressed to define when asked. We know it involves the design of things such as signage systems, forms, tests and test scores, information kiosks, data tables, statistical displays of all types, listings, charts, diagrams, BALLOTS, maps, schedules and timetables, manuals, product catalogs and all that type of 'stuff'. But can we define it without describing the artifacts of our effort? The term Information Design will rarely illicit a neutral reaction from designers. The thought of working on any of these aforementioned projects either makes a designer's mouth water and causes him to roll up his sleeves or sends him screaming from the room in terror. When I was running a design firm, it was always a useful litmus test for interviewing prospective designers to put a 1040 Income Tax Form on the desk and ask them how they would like to redesign it. If they're eyes glazed over or they broke out in a cold sweat, I knew it wasn't likely to be a good fit.
Read the full article, Information Design-
Where does someone like David Carson fit into this discussion? Would you consider him an information designer?
I would suggest that he carries many of the same tools as those you surveyed, but he sought different ends (if we can infer what he sought based on what he achived) - changing the role of "information" as well as "design."
Am I totally off base? -
I guess one could ask if you were designing for the sake of design (ooo, let's make cool and pretty stuff), or designing for some useful purpose. Most designers would never admit to the first one, but that's what all of them actually do. The really good ones do both.
btw, "artists" who design to please themselves, well, they have galleries and their own starving lives. -
In response to Steve's comment, I would say David Carson falls at the other end of the spectrum if you look at information design's primary objective as being useful. I believe that David's work is greatly characterized by his own distinct visual vocabulary (which I like) but which brings additional meaning to the piece. Also, I don't think that clarity and functionality are always his primary objectives. To my mind, the graphic form found in good information design supports the content and isn't highly stylized. I'd be interested to hear what others think about this.
-
I agree with Terry Irwin's statement in her article that a fundamental, though not universal, motive behind information design is human compassion. Truly effective information design is reliable, it's usefulness inexhaustible. Generally speaking, "popular" graphic design relies on visual appeal to generate profit, ultimately serving the designer's and the client's ego. And unlike advertising and most commercial design, which seek to influence one's thoughts and spending habits, information design strives to empower by helping one learn new concepts, make decisions, and achieve goals. The end-user's needs are central to the information designer's work, balanced by the client's needs and the aesthetic needs of the end product.
-
The difference between "Information Design" and "other types of design" is quite simply ONE the intent of the designer, TWO the purpose of the design, and THREE how much information is conveyed. If a design is intended to be more entertaining of decorative than informative, then its not so much Informational Design. If the designer or design fail at successful impartation of information in the design then it become less Informative Design and more whatever. A design can have an evolving Informative status as well, such as the annoyingly ubiquitous Nike logo. When I first saw that swoosh it meant little (first saw in the '70s). By the '80s it meant achievement and sportyness and high class in the fitness realm. Now in the '02s it means (at least to me) controversy, class oriented merchandise theft, sweat-labor camps in 3rd world countries and so on (but I still buy the blamed things).
-
Ms. Irwin makes an interesting point about David Carson's relation to information design (or design in general) that I'd like to elaborate on: that there is a spectrum of intent and methodology in the practice of communicating, and that the selection of method is always dependent on the content of a given project. that content can be an IRS 1040, with a specific kind of goal that calls for a specific kind of methodology.... or the content can be associational or emotional (say a CD booklet for a rock band), and that content's goal requires another kind of method. In both cases, the design of the information needs to be clear, but what constitutes 'clarity' in each case is contextualized by the audience. Mr. Carson's work does deliver a kind of clarity: the visceral experiential clarity of seeing, feeling, and reacting, rather than the neutral, rigorous, mathematical precision required for a truly useful test form or signage kiosk. Neither kind of information is more complex nor more useful than the other; their respective usefulness is appropriate and targeted within their given contexts. The most interesting thing is that the information in each case is presented in a way that is expected by, and therefore more useful for, each project's given audience at the particular time of use.
-
I would add one more word to Terry's list of definitions of information design: humility. For me, information design is different from other types of design because it is an invisible process to the public. Instead of rock-star fame, the information designer's mantra is modesty and honesty. Rather than striving to be a design auteur (David Carson), in which the designer stamps his or her own personal style in each work, the information designers is anonymous. How many people really know the name of the person who established parentheses around area codes in phone numbers? Or the person that designed the stop sign? On another level, the difference between information design and other types design is the difference between Aristostle and Socrates. Much of design is an Aristotelian argument to persuade the viewer to a specific point of view. It is to say, "This opinion is mine and I am right." In contrast, information design, like the Socratric method, allows the viewer or user to arrive at his or her own truth. The information is presented candidly and honestly. It is to say, "Here I am. I have no decorations or opinions, but I am humble and honest."
-
In essence I've found that information design is more about simplification than anything. It comes down to eliminating anything which distracts from the real purpose: passing on content. In this way it is more purely functional than many other forms of graphic design. Once elements beyond the basic parts are added it turns into something new; it becomes a part of the designer's conversation rather than about the information presented. Extra information, say on a map, can become distracting and compromise function.
-
I would argue that to judge a project solely on its information design (or, for that matter, its usability, color choices, size, style, or whatever) is too narrow and wrong. Designers should be able to make the information clear, but that doesn't mean that there is no room for expressiveness, or some other stamp of that individual designer (or design team). There is rarely (dare I say never?) a single correct solution to a project's information design -- or, for that matter, an other of its aspects. Instead, information design a creative task -- one which can be solved in any number of ways -- and with each good solution making the information clear. Information design is just part of "good design." And anyone who runs away from making a design SOLUTION is merely a stylist, and not a designer. [grrr! ;) ]
-
This is my definition of information design; Information design--in it's simplest form--does not seek to influence the end users emotions. It is a visual language that speaks to the brain, not to the heart.
You can, of course, combine information design with other types of design. -
I am a student considering information design but am still gathering information about what information designers really do. Does it seem to those who have experience that information design is a great way to combine ones love of art and design, learning(and imparting learning to others) and interest in the human mind(for instance I have seen that cognitive psychology is a component?)
Also, as a side question, since this is a new field, are there any established programs for getting a degree in information design out there that provides a well rounded program in this area? -
Information Design: designing language for people.
-
i think information design must speak to the heart, as well. as we have already surpassed the age of information for information's sake. (we will come back to that era sometime soon, but not yet in the nearest future.)
the experience of design beckons any information designer to add something extra to the creation. his own mark, as he understands and foresees it to matter in some future understanding of the simplest design matters.
it is our stamp of divinity on the world of design; we create some purpose to man's idealization of the world around him. -
Good graphic design has always been concerned with more than just sound visual appearance. Graphic design is as concerned with content, function, clarity, legibility, readability and effectiveness as it is with quality formalism and visual language.
Graphic design and information design are kind of like cousins. The distinction is that information design problems have a critical functional requirement to fulfill. When graphic design fails, people don't receive the intended message, communication can be misinterpreted, but no one gets hurt too badly. When information design problems fail, the consequences are significant: a nation mistakenly votes for a political candidate for whom they didn't intend to vote because the ballot was poorly designed (or assembled, not designed) and misleading. Or people die because they elect not to have surgery because the consent to surgery form is either intimidating or the risks described are so frightening that people are too scared to undergo the medical procedure.
We often discuss information design in terms of artifacts: charts, diagrams, maps, tables, forms, documents, etc. Information design problems manifest themselves in any situation where ideas and information can benefit from translation into a visual and verbal form that elucidates, illuminates, clarifies, cautions, protects, informs and educates. There is as much concern about the content and language of information design problems as there is concern for visual appearance or articulation.
Good information design results in solutions that make information and ideas clear and understandable to their intended audiences, make information accessible and easy to digest, and visualizes information in a way that is engaging to be read, studied and thoughtfully considered. Good information design can make visual and clear the ideas and concepts that are either invisible or abstract with no inherent visual representation.
The mission of information design goes beyond the artifact and attempts to bring order to chaos, to eliminate or vastly reduce waste and inefficiency. The aims are to improve the quality of daily life for people by improving the range of means for visual and verbal communication, the exchange, storage, retrieval and use of pertinent and useful information that has substance, integrity, benefit and consequence. -
i am a student pursuing information design.
i thoroughly accept the concept put forward by Terry Irwin.
i am more of a concerned for the global chalenges for information design, what would be the areas influenced by information design.
though i perceive, graphics desing is a part of information design, where information design is a bigger picture, graphics and presentation is a part of it. -
I downloaded the pdf and I found it very hard to read with painfully long line lengths. Pretty ironic, don't you think?
© 2010 AIGA | 164 Fifth Avenue New York NY 10010 | 212 807 1990
Comments