This invaluable guide provides a creative, informative, and practical introduction to the general principles of information design. With chapters on understanding the audience, structure, legibility and readability, selection of media, experimentation, and multi-platform delivery, An Introduction to Information Design gives a complete overview of this fundamental aspect of visual communication.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• 1 What is information design?
• Definitions of information design
• A brief history of information design
• Why is information design necessary?
• What are the different types of information design?
• 2 Information design for specific audiences
• Identifying the audience and their needs
• Defining the audience
• Activity: How to identify your audience
• Internationalism
• Inclusivity
• Visual impairment
• Hints and Tips: Designing for visual impairment
• Case study: Designing for a target audience – children
• 3 Structuring information
• Grids
• Hierarchy of information
• Dynamic composition and gesture
• Sequence of information
• Hints and Tips: Organizing information
• Hints and Tips: Using a grid
• Hints and Tips: Setting up the grid
• Case study: Grid structure and hierarchy
• 4 Legibility and readability
• Understanding legibility and readability
• Readability: colour, tint and tone
• Legibility, readability and contrast
• Weight, size and scale
• Typographic elements
• Glossary of typographical terms
• Graphic elements
• Imagery
• Hints and Tips: Visibility and contrast
• Hints and Tips: Colour-coding
• Hints and Tips: Choice of typeface, weight and scale
• Case study: Illustration in information design
• Case study: Graphics in information design
• 5 Realizing the design through appropriate media
• Explanation of media
• Choosing appropriate media
• The difference between print and digital
• Designing for different digital platforms
• Computer data visualization
• Exhibition design and design for the environment
• Hints and Tips: Knowing the possibilities of media
• Case study: Maintaining a brand's visual identity across different media
• 6 Experimentation and inspiration for the design process
• Why is experimentation and inspiration important?
• Lateral thinking
• Inspiration for design
• Editing data for inspiration
• The importance of trying out ideas
• Hints and Tips: Taking inspiration from the world around you
• Case study: Inspiration for the design process
• Case study: Visual mapping
• 7 Information design in practice: print, interactive and environmental
• Design outcomes
• Routes for print-based information design
• Case studies: Print-based information design
• Routes for interactive information design
• Case study: Interactive information design
• Routes for environmental information design
• Case studies: Environmental information design
• 8 Information design in practice: multi-platform delivery
• Using multiple platforms
• Case study: Interactive exhibition design
• Case study: Environmental and interactive wayfinding
• Conclusion
• Glossary
• Further reading / Websites
• Acknowledgements