Information Design / Lilah Prestia

The process of information design varies for each and every project. However, there are some general steps that should be incorporated in order to create the most effective pieces of information. (Retrieved October 23, 2018, from  http://s3.amazonaws.com/architecture-org/files/resources/design-process-chart.png) The first step involves getting a better idea of the project as a whole. This includes asking important questions such as: What is the problem? Who is the target audience? Where and When is this taking place? Why? This first step also includes content analysis. Baer (2008) makes an important point, stating that the more you know about a client’s history and past projects, the better you can solve the new design problem at hand (p. 44). With my blog as an example, I ask myself these questions before writing, in order to get a better idea of where to begin. The second step requires a creative brief. Baer (2008) defines this document as a short outline of

(Retrieved October 3, 2018, from  https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/using-simulated-experience-to-make-sense-of-big-data/) There are various different theories in information design. My preferred theory involves sign-posting, which states that information is necessary to guide audiences and inform them, as well as being constantly changed and updated to more modern standards. However, another theory that stands out to me is the sense-making theory of Brenda Dervin . “The approach was originally developed to assess how patients/audiences/users/clients/citizens make sense of their intersections with institutions, media…and situations…” (Jacobson, 2000, p. 44). While this concept is interesting, it can also be difficult to fully g rasp. According to Jacobson (2000), sense-making is based on concepts relating to time, space, movement, and gap (p. 45).  This could be considered a con to sense-making, as there is a lot of room for different bridges, solutions, or outcomes, depen