What is Information Design?

The Society of Technical Communicators (STC) Special Interest Group on Information Design provides the following definition.

"The field of information design applies traditional and evolving design principles to the process of translating complex, unorganized, or unstructured data into valuable, meaningful information. The practice of information design requires an interdisciplinary approach which combines skills in graphic design, writing and editing, instructional design, human performance technology, and human factors." [stcsig.org]

Under this definition, virtually anything written or drawn falls under the heading of Information Design, from traditional off-line documents (e.g. advertisements, marketing collateral, technical documentation) to online documents (e.g. web sites, product user interfaces). And frankly, it seems reasonable to assume that any kind of information should be carefully planned and executed in order to meet the needs of the target audience.

Furthermore, with the electronic delivery of information and the Internet, information is becoming more complex. In the past, information was designed for a single output. Today, through the use of single source technologies, information is being designed for display in multiple outputs. For example, the traditional product specification can now be delivered on multiple media, using technologies to address multiple audiences. The product specification may be delivered in multiple forms: as a paper-based spec sheet, as a section in a user guide or technical manual, as part of a web page, and even inside the product user interface.

So it stands to reason that the demand for Information Design, and Information Designers, will only increase as businesses continue to deliver their information in multiple forms using multiple technologies. And this demand will only grow as we invent additional ways to deliver information to consumers using new technologies.

Further information

Information design program
So where are all the Information Designers?