document design

Information is structured data. Data consists of random bits and pieces that can be seen all around us and can be gathered. We process data to create information that has meaning. Information is a core ingredient in all designs and is part of all communication goals -whether to inform, persuade, educate, or entertain. We must have information in order to create a design.

Information design arranges chunks of data to inform the viewer. Information-focused designs communicate to us each day as we stop at a stop sign, read a train schedule, or watch the weather report on the evening news. Information designs are seen in newspapers, calendars, timelines, charts, corporate reports, news Web sites, and instructional materials. Information design must have high fidelity in meaning and visual strength in execution-because it guides the viewer during action. When reading a newspaper, people must navigate through various articles and sections in order to find information (stories, box scores, and ads) meaningful to them. Structure is the key component in information graphics (or infographics); achieving the proper gestalt (unification of the parts) leads to understanding on the part of the viewer or user.

Edward Tufte’s principles to escape flatland and build meaningful designs for information:

Micro/macro readings represent information that is rich in detail and in overall structure. Micro refers to critical information that is read carefully to extract meaning. Macro refers to the larger whole that contains the micro components. We frequently see micro/macro readings in maps, flowcharts, blueprints, timetables, and monuments.

Layering and separation represent an informational structure through overlapping elements, grids, margins, and white space. We frequently see layering and separation in Web pages, charts and graphs, catalogs, ads, magazines, newspapers, books, and brochures.

Small multiples represent information using repetition, consistency,