With all of the content we are exposed to on a daily basis, it can be hard to distinguish between the different intentions and accompanying design principles of the content. Any design that serves to “facilitate understanding”, as Professor Pontis puts it, could be included within the umbrella of information design. This includes user interfaces for apps, infographics, informational posters, and a variety of other media that serve to clearly communicate or present information! Here are a few more concrete examples of information design.
Infographic
I found this cool infographic while scrolling through Pinterest. It depicts what a potential future smart city could be like with an increase in connected devices and a focus on data. The creators of the infographic chose to focus speficially on smart vehivcles. The infographic starts with the personal use of the vehicle at the top, followed by the vision of the vehicle at the community and city level. The less personal use of vehicles at the enterprise level was placed at the bottom of the infographic. The infographic is well designed to show how connected devices will impact every level of society in the future.
App Dashboard
As I traveled last week, I had to use the United Airlines app to get everything from my boarding pass and flight information to entertainment while on the plane. The app is welll designed to make finding information about anything flight related very convenient. App dashboards are a very interesting modern example of information design. Apps provide a lot of functionality when it comes to providing different types of information. Organizing these functions in a way that makes sense to users is a growing practice in the design industry.
Map
I took a picture of this map of the Golden Gate area of San Francisco. The map was designed for those who were interested in hiking or biking. It included information on parks in the area, different attractions to visit in the surrounding area, as well as an actual detailed map of the area. Physical maps aren’t used as much in the age of the cell phone, but this map included all the information you would need if you didn’t have access to a phone and Google Maps, such as walking distances and photos of different areas.
These are just a few examples of the material in the world of information design. I am very excited to learn more about information design throughout the duration of this class and beyond!
Design For Understanding 