While I was on a business trip in Ogden, Utah recently, I had the chance to visit a ski resort formerly used in the 2002 winter Olympics.  The lodge was beautiful and extravagant with antiques and intricate furnishings everywhere.
One thing I noticed was there was very little signage in the lodge itself. The circular design of the building allowed for less arrows and signs so this wasn't a big deal. On the slopes, however, I feel there could be some better information design solutions.
Anyone familiar with ski resorts knows the basic green circle, blue square, black diamond trail signs. These were present along with ski lift signs and the like.
I guess I would like to see some more interaction between the wayfinding systems at ski resorts and the skiers. One thing I think would be great for newbies on the mountain, would be a simple flowchart on the slopes mapping the trails so a novice wouldn't find themselves down the path where they have to choose between an intermediate or expert trail. I realize there are detailed maps, but a simple color coded line chart showing what difficulty lies ahead would enable skiers to decide while on the move rather than stopping to check a pocket map.
While in the lodge, I also think it would be informative to have first person videos of the trails with the name and difficulty for each in bold. Maybe kiosks near the ski rentals where people could go preview the trails and locate them on the map. This type of human centered approach would add value to the experience of ski rental and sizing ("while your waiting, check out our slopes and plan your day on the mountain"). 

These ideas would be simple to deploy and would be very welcome to the skiers visiting.

Inspiration from Researching Web

As a designer, one of the most utilized yet under appreciated sources of inspiration for information designers is the internet.

The first thing most designers do when starting a new project is search for any related material on the web. Whether it is to avoid the status quo, or to create something popular culture can resonate with, designers can use online content to guide them towards a satisfying result...

For example, when I searched for collage style web designs, I came across a page on coolhomepages.com that read," Collage style designs can be fun.  They're different, and give the designer a lot of flexibility with the graphical elements on the page, the type and the color design".


The information provided in addition to the visual examples  built up the foundation in my mind for the structure I want to use in a design for a client's business website. My client  is a friend who wants to set their business aside from similar businesses on the web and my initial search on the internet supported my first proposal to do a collage design.

Instances like this are constantly occurring and the ideas that materialize in brainstorming can be fostered by finding material on the web.

I have included some links on the right of this page that provide some great information on design...

Information Rhythm

The presentation of information requires an understanding of the audiences perception and how to organize the information to create a flow or rhythm.
Visualizing a design using sketches, flowcharts and concept mapping assists the designer in creating rhythm and to realize their internal imaging. "It is important for information designers to be fully aware of internal thinking processes and mental models, for they influence communication processes and content as ideas take shape" (Jacobsen 195). In addition to these techniques, it is essential to view other works by designers to create a more universal perception to the information being displayed.
One source I like to use in making a design is video media such as youtube and television. These channels of media help in feeling a "pulse" of popular and creative concepts.
In my blog, I have included video examples of different design concepts using a youtube plugin.
Here is an example of one of my own design workflow videos...

References:
Jacobson, Robert. Information Design. Massachusetts: The MIT Press, 2000. Print.

Tailoring Your Design

Information design projects focusing on everything from product advertising to public messages to safety products and signage all need to be approached with intentional differences. 

http://thetravelersway.com/our-creative-brief/

The strategy behind these designs needs to be tailored to the focused demographic and/ or media being utilized.  The combination of graphics and other content included in the project should be planned by setting specific goals and drawing a map to reach those goals. In the early stages of designing the project, a creative brief is especially useful in mapping out the goals of the design," It's important to have a good plan. Information design projects, in particular, tend toward the kind of complexity that makes having a thoughtfully crafted creative brief especially helpful" (Baer 50).

http://www.davidgilbert.de/blog/tag/creative-brief/

The brief should  contain information pertinent to any information design project:

• Client information
• Project Information
• Goals
• Project Logistics

By including this information in the creative brief, a clear path is easier to follow when the project is being realized. 


Works Cited:
Baer, K. (2008). Personas and Scenarios. In K. Baer, Information Design Workbook (p. 58). Beverly: Rockport Publishers, Inc.

Information Interaction Design

The incorporation of information design, interaction design, and sensorial design results in the theory of Information Interactive design. The principles of information interactive design are practiced by all of us in some shape or form whether it be slide shows, newsletters, graphics, music, etc.

Example of an interactive web program (http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com)

The greatest advantage of information interaction design is the immersion of the audience into the  presentation of information being shared. For example, by adding a simple diagram to complex ideas in a textbook information that could have potentially been misinterpreted by the reader was communicated by reinforcing the data and asking the reader to link the diagram to the reading.

The main weakness of this theory is finding the best media to utilize as an information vehicle. As stated by Nathan Shedroff, " a reader/user/consumer has access to many media and, most likely, is not as enamored of the technology of any particular medium as its developer might be" (Jacobson 286).

To best practice this theory in this blog, I will either find a widget or create one that will further the experience of my audience of Information Design.

References:
Jacobson, Robert. Information Design. Massachusetts: The MIT Press, 2000. Print.

What is Information Design?

(Photo I took on a recent trip to UK)

Information design is everywhere. I see it as soon as I get in the shower and grab the shampoo bottle. I see it when I open the newspaper. I see it in schoolbooks and in staff meetings. My son is bombarded with examples of information design from advertisements to educational games and books. There are great and inventive ways to convey information and they can inspire us and teach us and they affect all of us in some way or another.