What is
information design?
To design
the ‘meaning of complex information’ is a task that demands from information
designers systematic thinking and a combination of
analytical, editorial and graphic abilities…To practice information design
implies viewing the world through a special filter, disassembling it with
analytical curiosity, to then assemble it again in a simplified way and with a
feeling for precision and detail.
-Gerlinde
Schuller published by AIGA, New York, March 2007
We as humans are natural social beings seeking
to make sense of the world by engaging and transporting ourselves into the
realm of creativity. Everyday a person is faced with new visuals that artists have introduced
that expand our awareness by sharing a universal visual language. The world is
full of things that are visual which shape our personal perceptions. Imagine a world without pictures to
simplify vast amounts data. Information design in simple terms is to take
complex things and making it clear to understand. We as humans are seeing the
world as visual patterns of data allowing us to make natural connectivity in an
efficient and effective matter (Jacobson, 15).
We live our lives in symbolic (coded) ways that most of us our unaware
of by reading a book or newspaper, following road signs, surf the web etc….a
method that communicates indirectly by multiple signs. Information designers consider
public impact to design meaning and clarity of data within visual symbolic elements. To
accomplish visual understanding designers constantly study people based on
geographic, demographic, psychographics and behavior. Peoples’ interpretations
vary throughout a particular culture or environment and it is up to information
designers to be aware of those culture codes to properly communicate to that
particular audience.
Sources
Jacobson,
Robert E.Information Design. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1999. Print.
Schuller,Gerlinde. “Information
Design=Complexity+Interdisciplinary+Experiment”. AIGA Essay p.1, March 2007.
Web 14 September 2014. < http://www.theworldasflatland.net/webbilder/essays/essay-aiga.pdf>
I like the design you chose for this. I agree most humans are social to make sense of the world but not all. We are faced with new designs and information on a daily basic. I really have never thought about it too much until this class. It is amazing how much it effects our daily life. It starts with the clothes we wear, coffee we drink and what we have for lunch. Every thing we use has some sore of information graphic.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Bev Shaff
Nice blog! I like the clean, simple format. I also liked the contrast of the blues and orange from the information design graphic. I think those colors fit the modern, clean style of your blog well. I also appreciated in your comments section how you brought out the idea of designers studying people and their behaviors. I think highlighting this as being vital to equipping oneself with the tools to adequately communicate was great!
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Your clean design appeals to me. I have a hard time focusing on the core meaning that someone is trying to convey if the "vehicle" is too cluttered. The graphic is small but eye catching and pulls you right into the topic.
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