Information is all around us; forms, documents, books, information architecture, wayfinding, mapping, transport information, user guides, consultation material… well, yes, just about everything. Over the years, we have all heard the phrases ‘information anxiety’ and ‘information overload’ to the extent that these have become clichés. Everyday we are bombarded by ‘stuff’ — whether we need it, want it, or even understand it. Enter information design.
Information design can be hard to define because it is multi-disciplinary and multi-dimensional. It draws on many fields, both practical and theoretical, including language, art, aesthetics, information, behaviour, communication, cognition and media technologies. It is about the interpretation, perception, use and the communication of that information — how it informs us and/or persuades us to act. Today, we are seeing particular challenges in information design with the capture and representation of dynamic information, as well as the traditional static forms we are familiar with. Both can, and must, co-exist.
Ultimately — as with any piece of design — it is about improving the user experience by creating valuable, compelling and empowering information and experiences.