Author: sheilapontis
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Defining Information Design
Back in 2000, Jacobson wrote that a “unitary definition [of information design] was elusive,” and that the information design community needed “a reliable lexicon and a tried-and-true theory backed up with case studies” in order to “systematise and pass along our knowledge” (p.3). Back then “the theory [was] sketchy and the case studies [were] scarce.”…
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User Studies Matter: A True Story
Recently, I bought a 13” MacBook Pro Retina Display laptop. While the processes of buying and setting up the machine went very smoothly, I encountered an unexpected problem: find a sleeve for the laptop. Exploratory research. Initially, I searched online in Amazon for sleeves, and found a variety of designs for 13” laptops. So, in…
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Applying Information Design Principles to Project Planning
Project planning is a big task in the problem-solving process, often not given the attention it deserves or misunderstood. For some people, project planning can be hard and time-consuming, while for others it can be a more straight-forward and enjoyable task. In both cases, it is important to understand why designing a project plan is…
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Looking ahead: Design Practitioners-Researchers
“The Dancing Traffic Light” project (2014) is an example of applied research. The company Smart created an interactive crossing light to increase the number of pedestrians waiting for the light to change at intersections. The project reflects an understanding of the problem, the context and the audience’s needs. The solution is creative and engaging, and…
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The Elephant of Design Education
A few weeks ago, I attended an excellent talk by Jonathan Zimmerman as part of NYU Center for the Advancement of Teaching. The talk was based on research about the evolution of undergraduate teaching in the United States, presenting key characteristics of various periods until now, and mostly within the context of history, humanities and…
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Learnings from medical information design
The work produced by Dr. Frank Netter is a good example of well-conceived information design that shows how effectiveness is not related to the use of sophisticated tools. Netter was both a doctor in medicine and a graphic artist who combined both sets of skills to help achieve a more understandable way of presenting complex…
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An Introduction to Design Research in Valencia (Spain)
Last week I enjoyed a few days in Spain teaching design research to teachers from the Escola D’Art i Superior de Disseny de Valencia (EASD). Around 80 teachers and experienced professionals from Graphic Design, Product Design, Textile Design, Fashion Design, Photography and Art attended the three sessions of the course: Session 1: What is design…
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Urban Visual Inconsistencies
Earlier today I was walking around the old town in Valencia, where I’m teaching a course, and found a very interesting situation captured in the above photo. I walked out from the train station and something caught my attention, something was off. I had the same feeling as when reading an ill-conceived infographic or paying…
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The Power of Information
Much has been written about the current information age, how we are information overloaded, and have access to tonnes of data and information everywhere, and how all that information is making us feel anxious and confused. At the same time, little has been written about those situations in which the lack of information can trigger…
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Adopting a Team Approach
Watching the FIFA World Cup made me realise the key role of each member in a team to have good performances and successful results. In a football match, most of the time, we only see eleven players running up and down the field, but more individuals integrate a football team. Although less visible to the…
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Making research more accesible
NYU Wagner hosts a series of talks as part of the 2014 Henry Hart Rice Urban Policy Forum: Neighborhood Inequality and the New Social Transformation of the American City. Back in April, I attended the talk of Robert Sampson, professor of Social Sciences at Harvard University. Sampson presented results from a longitudinal research study he…
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Will Burtin’s Legacy to Information Design
Many has been written about the legacy of John Snow, Charles Minard, William Playfair, Jacques Bertin, Otto Neurath, and even Ladislav Sutnar to information design, but comparatively very little has been said about the work of Will Burtin. He was a German-born designer who emigrated to the United States just before the beginning of the…
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