Information design - Definition and Overview

Information design is the soft technology of structuring information so as to be most learnable or useful. While it has been practiced informally ever since the first book was written (and even before), it is a modern term that became popular with the advent of the web.

Its goal is not only to record best practices in the area, but to formalize the technology (similar to what has happened with instructional design) and to eventually surround itself with an information design theory.

For current practice, see the interesting Info Design (http://www.informationdesign.org/) web site.

Information Design is not to be confused with Information architecture which is more closely linked to computer science, Information architecture refers more technically to the design of information systems. It comprises the aspects data modelling and process analysis.

"Information design is the defining, planning, and shaping of the contents of a message and the environments it is presented in with the intention of achieving particular objectives in relation to the needs of users. At this point of the development IIID is concerned with the design of visual information but it could in the future include the design of information other than visual one. " Definition from the International Institute for Information Design (http://www.iiid.net/).

See also

• Knowledge visualization