Mapping

"Part of where I'm going, is knowing where I'm coming from" -Gavin Degraw

Information designers utilize mapping techniques to show where objects are located in relation to one another. Mapping is an incredibly versatile tool that “makes all kinds of ideas about the spatial relationships of objects unexpectedly clear” (Roam, 2009, p. 166). Information maps are used to create a visual connection between interrelated concepts, structures, or processes in a clear and incisive manner. According to Horn (1994), information mapping makes it easier to write technical materials, provide more specific content and analysis, and leads to more effective and efficient learning.

Applications of mapping in information design:

• Wayfinding
• Infographics
• Wireframes 
• Blueprints
• Information architecture, such as sitemaps
• Project documentation: team organizational chart, work plan diagram, etc. (Baer, 2009, p. 34)
• Diagrams
• Webbing
• Matrix
• Charts
• Timeline
• Structure mapping
• Process mapping
• Concept mapping

Concept mapping has become increasingly useful as a research tool and an instructional technique to facilitate meaningful learning” (Novak, J. & Gowin, B. & Johansen, G., 2006).  For this blog post, I created concept maps to demonstrate each step in Roam’s visual thinking process: look, see, imagine, show.  Then I created a process map that demonstrates visual thinking as it really happens (Roam, 2009, p. 41). 

Once I sketched out my process map, I used Microsoft Office object palette to create concept maps for the four steps in the visual design process:

References:

Baer, K. (2008). Information Design Workboook. Massachusetts: MIT Press.

Horn, R. (1994, March). Information Mapping. Training in Business and Industry. Retrieved from http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDEQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stanford.edu%2F~rhorn%2Fa%2Ftopic%2Fstwrtng_infomap%2FartclInfoMappingTraining.pdf&ei=tetrT4yDDKjs0gHq7N3HBg&usg=AFQjCNEuhfBo-eisnCTPYQPtnUyvIpZMBA&sig2=QODvhG1cgYU7p79EQPTRrQ

Jacobson, R. (1999). Information Design. Massachusetts: MIT Press.

Novak, J. & Gowin, B. & Johansen, G. (2006). The use of concept mapping and knowledge vee mapping. Cornell University. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/sce.3730670511/abstract

Roam, D. (2009). The back of the napkin: Solving problems and selling ideas with pictures. New York: Penguin Group.

Informational Design Process

"People ignore design that ignores people." -Frank Chimero

Designing information for a particular audience is a problem solving process that requires careful thought, collaboration, and planning. Each step of the process is described in the graphic below (Baer, 2008): 

* Please click on the graphic to view enlarged image

This process ensures that the client and the design team are on the same page throughout each phase of the project. The only improvement I suggest is to include more information about the target audience during the creative brief and collaborate with representative audience members during the development of personas and scenarios. This will prevent the team from making assumptions about the audience that may mislead designers during the prototype development phase. I think that the preliminary questions are the most important phase of the project because it is imperative to gain a thorough understanding of the client's unique needs and develop a collaborative relationship in order for the project to be successful.

For my blog, I have considered how to present information to members of the class in a clear and concise manner. I have created graphics to help the audience gain a better understanding of key messages. I have used feedback from my classmates to edit the content of posts and consider their recommendations in later posts. I considered the importance of a user-centric design and arranged the elements of the blog to give the important features greater visibility. I have eliminated certain elements that I felt were not necessary for the audience's purposes. This process has also helped me understand that I cannot look at the entire class as one audience, because we have different learning styles and technical experience.

Information Interaction Design

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." - Henry Davis Thoreau

Nathan Shedroff’s theory of information interaction design integrates three design disciplines as demonstrated in the concept map below:

Sherdoff focuses on creating meaningful interactions by giving the audience the ability to actively contribute to the experience. The strengths and weaknesses of his theory are listed in the chart below:

Interactivity is giving the audience the ability to control tools, pacing, or content to be productive or creative (p. 283). Blogs provide a forum for interactivity because viewers can add comments to your posts and share your blog on social media sites. The blogger site gives the designer the ability to include many other interactive features through gadgets and HTML coding. I plan to include many of these features in my blog, including a poll, search bar, links to other useful websites, as well as other tools. 

Shedroff's theory also discusses the importance of organizing and presenting information in a way that gives meaning. I have incorporated graphic organizers, bulleted lists, colors, and font elements to summarize information and emphasize important content. This theory also discusses the role of sensorial design, and I plan to include different forms of presentation media to stimulate the audiences' senses.

Informational Design Basics

"Good design encourages a viewer to want to  learn more" -Alexander Isley

The goal of informational design is to “present the right information to the right people at the right time, in the most effective and efficient form” (Jacobson, 1999, p. 15). This discipline is still evolving and integrates research from diverse areas of study, including graphic design, technology, computer interface design, advertising, communications, and educational psychology.  While the meaning of informational design is debated amongst practitioners, there is one principle that all agree on: creating meaning for the intended audience through effective communication.

Informational Design and Cognition

Since we are constantly inundated with visual stimuli, our brain overlooks a majority of the information presented in the environment. Therefore, informational designers must consider cognitive issues that lead to the active processing of information (Cross):

• Perception
• Interpretation
• Understanding
• Interacting

Communication is only effective if the audience pays attention, engages, and retains new knowledge. The design of visual communication determines how the brain will translate data into information that is meaningful and valuable.

Informational designers should understand the differences between data, information, knowledge, and wisdom:

Informational designers should create communications that develop knowledge. Knowledge is the highest level of understanding designers can affect directly, and these messages are the most valuable and memorable for the audience (p. 273).

Creating a Balance

Aesthetic features create a strong visual appeal, while functional characteristics ensure that information is presented effectively. “Aesthetic form and functionality need to go hand in hand, providing insights into a rather sparse and complex data set by communicating its key aspects in a more intuitive way” (Friedman, 2008).  

Effective visual communication requires a delicate balance between the aesthetic and functional aspects of informational design.

Visual Design

The elements of visual communication have a tremendous impact on how users access, learn, and remember information (Canali De Rossi).

 

The most visually appealing design is useless if it fails to “simplify, integrate, filter, and selectively emphasize information” in a way that creates meaning for the intended audience (Canali De Rossi). The aesthetic and functional value of each of these elements must be carefully evaluated when designing visual communication.

To close this discussion, I thought it would be fun to show an example of the worst informational design that I was able to find: