Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1: What is information design?
This chapter aims to provide an insight into the subject of information design,
to explain its purpose and the various forms it takes. We outline a brief history
of information design to put the discipline in context, then discuss why it is
necessary and how we use it in our daily lives. Finally, we look at the various
ways in which it is presented and how the approach has to be modified de-
pending on the format.
Definitions of information design
In an age where we are bombarded with information, the boundaries between what
is and what is not considered information design have become blurred. We consume
thousands of pieces of information every day, often without even noticing, so what
exactly is information design?
Many people define it differently. Some feel that it is simply the visualization of data;
others see it as the communication of any message in any form. This could take the
form of an advertisement or of a safety sign: both communicate a message or mean-
ing to the viewer, and both deal with information, whether it is about selling a product
or about preventing risks to health.
'Information design is the defining, planning, and shaping of the contents of a message and the
environments in which it is presented, with the intention to satisfy the information needs of the
intended recipients.'
International Institute for Information Design (IIID)
'In its broadest sense, all graphic design is “information design”. The distinction for me is that
graphic design is the organization of elements that are typically capable of communicating in-
dependently, like words, photography and illustration. Information design, as I see it, incorpor-
ates the more elemental particles of data, and as a result requires more interpretation or author-
ship on the designer's part for it to speak fluently.'
Nicholas Felton, Feltron (USA)
