Growth Chart — Information design by Amy Tranthem. Based on parent’s profession as a paediatric nurse, this graphic charts the students influences against particular heights during her life.
Recent work in the field of information design shows that the form itself and just what it’s for is completely open to interpretation. These diagrams might communicate in particular ways (Figures is really here to try and understand what those are) but the content it communicates seems to be open to anything. Information design is a medium like movies or comics through which any story can be explained. The Feltron Annual Reports are a case in point. The popularity of these, and other, more arts-based attempts at personal information design such as Simon Patterson’s Great Bear got us thinking about teaching information design to first year designers.
In this assignment, students are asked to map out a dozen influences upon their own lives. The ‘map’ itself is derived from the kinds of information design one of their parents (presumeably a major influence) uses in their daily activities. For example, if a child’s parent is a nuclear physicist, the student may use the periodic table of elements as a basis for their information design. At first glance the design will look like the periodic table. Closer inspection will reveal different content than what is expected. So far, all students have found something to engage with. Often, where students have initially been dubious about the project because their dad is ‘just a clerk’ or ‘in insurance’ the results have brought the best feedback from the class. A big surprise is the potential for humour within this assignment.
Why does this assignment work at such an early stage in design studies? Students new to university can have a distrust of theory, design students in particular are often raring to go only to make pretty things. The trick with this assignment was to nurture that urge but channel it through some research. Our students are not familiar with the concept of research and can shy from it when it is labelled as such. This assignment is a way of sneaking design research under the radar of the student: A way to get students to research from the beginnings of their course without them knowing they are doing it. Importantly it seeks to give them confidence by focusing on their area of expertise: themselves. It charts influences only each individual student knows. It’s a chance to talk about themselves and it breaks the ice in the class early in the study year. It also builds confidence about the idea of research.
At Risk– Information design by Casey Chatman. Based on a parent’s profession in risk assessment this design graphs declining influences of family members and growing influence of personal relationships as the student starts university.
Students are shown that design comes from many quarters and is not just conjured by designers. Design is in fact too important to leave in the hands of designers. Design should always be the result of some research. What is important is to get students to articulate that research not solely through the design, but through writing and presentation. Having them start this process through something they are already experts in gives them confidence from the get go in this complex and often daunting process. It is a positive way forward into a career founded on research and communicative articulation.
Explosives & Dangerous goods– Information design by Olivia Nicolson. Based on parent’s profession in industrial gases, this graphic charts the students influences against particular heights during her life.
Data Underload posts can be found on Nathan Yau’s Flowing Data blog, which is a must see. This design is one of his I believe. When not making his own engaging pieces, he certainly has an eye for others’ entertaining infographics. We’re very keen on these kinds of nonsense infographics just because of what they can tell us about engaging and entertaining while (mis)informing. Our raison d’etre is accessibility you may recall. The link, Data Underload , was sent to us courtesy of Andy Simionato of Thisisamagazine fame, whose acquaintance I am very pleased to have made recently. Keep ‘em coming, Andy. hopefully, we can coax Andy to work with us on some of our experiments.