Course description:
The course introduces basic concepts, methods and procedures of information design with focus on mapping information. It investigates visual systems and information structures such as maps, graphs, charts and diagrams. Emphasis is placed on the exploration of conceptual and visual solutions, and on the creative process of organizing, visualizing and communicating information. The objective is to examine design solutions that make complex information easier to understand and to use by a specific audience. The course will be delivered as studio projects, individual and class critiques, lectures, –discussions, and readings.
The course is required for Graphic Design majors, Department of Art + Design, Northeastern University. The class meets once a week for three and half hours for 14 weeks.
Learning Objectives:
• To develop basic critical language and procedures used in information design;
• To learn how to analyze, organize, visualize and communicate information;
• To explore methods of research, design and testing in the field of information design;
• To explore how to communicate complex information to a specific audience.
ASSIGNMENTS:
For description and student work prior to 2009 please visit previous archive, which requires Flash player.
Assignment #1 :
Task (2010): The assignment consists of weekly diagrams communicating world facts. The goal is to create a series of three diagrams communicating world facts to an audience of undergraduate students. Diagrams should share common visual vocabulary, as they will be considered as a group. . Duration: 4 weeks. Below selection of student work from Spring 2010:
Task (2009): Create an informational diagram that visually tells something about you. The goal is to structure and communicate a personal set of data that you (will) have experienced in 5 consecutive days.The audience is an adult not familiar with you, who should be able to learn something about your routine. Duration: 3 weeks. Below selection of student work from Spring 2009:
Assignment #2 :
Task (2010): Create an informational diagram that visually tells something about you. The goal is to structure and communicate a personal set of data that you (will) have experienced in 4 consecutive weeks. The audience is an adult not familiar with you, who should be able to learn something about your routine. Duration: 5 weeks (not counting with collecting data time). Below selection of student work from Spring 2010:
Task (up to 2009): Create an informational diagram that visually tells something about you. The goal is to structure and communicate a personal set of data that you (will) have experienced in 4 consecutive weeks. The audience is an adult not familiar with you, who should be able to learn something about your routine. Duration: 5 weekes (not counting with collecting data time). Below selection of student work from Spring 2007-2009:
Assignment #3 :
Task (2009-2010): Create an informational diagram of an archive. Start by selecting a collection of “objects” that has a historical importance. There should be a minimum of 50 different “objects”. It is important that the “objects” share some properties so that you can make groups and find connections within the database. Then, you will visually structure and communicate the collection and the information about objects in a diagrammatic form. The goal is to organize the objects by categories (to group information) and to find patterns and connections that help communicate the content to someone not familiar with the collection of objects. The viewer should be able to learn about the collection and its objects at the macro and micro scales.
