Information / Instructional Design

Information Design
"Information design is the visual method of explaining and interpreting complex information and data to help the user achieve a particular objective."
Saul Carliner, 2002.

Information design focuses on the efficiency of the presentation of complex sets of information and data rather than the aestheic approach to how this data is being communicated. Therefore the main focus of information design lies in the effectivess of that information being presented.

Primary objectives of Information Design:
01. To develop documents that are comprehensible which can also be rapidly and accurately retrievable as well as easy to translate.
02. To design interactions with equipment that are easy and natural.
03. Enable people to find their way around a 3-dimensional space with ease and comfort in both real and visual contexts.


Instructional Design
Instructional Design is the process of the analysis of learning needs and goals of people as well as the development of a delivery system to meet thesese particular needs. Through this analysis, effective and concise instructions are delievered to the target audience to improve user needs and experiences. The same meaning can be read in the following diagram:

What is information design? http://searchcrm.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid11_gci214367,00.html

Examples of Information / Instructional Design

Information Design Patterns. Online: http://www.insideria.com/2008/05/information-design-patterns-a.html Last accessed: Tues 17, 2009.

Marlyn Mantic. Rather Graphic. Online: http://rathergraphic.blogspot.com/2007/01/information-design-examples.html Last accessed: Tue 17, 2009

Planning tools for Interaction

Moodboard
A moodboard is a collage of materials (images, text, colours, photographs, etc) which captures the ambience or feel of a place, design or persona. It allows audiences to understand the subject matter through the visual and emotive elements of the images without reading a descriptive detail of the subject matter itself. The following is a moodboard created from the given persona below.

Persona: Johnny Smith

John is a 75-year-old retired carpenter who still enjoys hikes in national parks and ridding his Harley-Davidson. He looks forward to the local club raffle and a catch up with the boys on a Thursday evening. He also enjoys playing bingo, listening to local radio and watching old western movies with his wife Jill. As he gets older and has to visit the hospital more often, he prefers quick and efficient healthcare with simple, bold instructions and hospital signs. He aims to enjoy the rest of his life traveling a little and spending time with family, especially his grandchildren.

Location: Hobart
Toaster Usage: Unfortunately Johnny has never used a fancy new electric toaster.
Computer/Internet Usage: PC, Occasionally browses the Internet with the help of his grandchildren.
Computer Skill: Novice user. Finds things too complicated on the computer to use. Has an email but doesn’t know how to use it properly.

Planning tools for Interaction

Storyboard
Storyboards are made up of frames which are used to visually represent sequences of actions or procedures whether it may be through photographic imagery or illustrations. It is a pre-visualisation of production and is seen to be useful and beneficial, with time and production management, as it acts as a guide. The following is a storyboard of the previous flowchart.

Planning tools for Interaction

Flowchart
A very common tool used within interactive design, to visually represent data in a succint and concise way, is flowcharting and storyboarding. Flowcharts are used to represent processes in a basic step-by-step chart consisting of various geometric shapes (boxes, diamonds, oblongs etc.) and arrows which connects the algorithm together. The following is an example of these techniques which have been utilised to to show the procedures of cooking toast.

Step-by-step Text Description
The following is an example of this technique which has been utilised to to show the procedures of cooking toast.

How to Cook Toast

BEGIN
01. Wash and dry your hands
02. Find a sturdy surface to place toaster
03. Plug plug into power point
04. Turn on the power switch (does toaster turn on?)
05. Take out slices of bread
06. Place slices into toaster
07. Set timer on toaster
08. Press down on toaster cooker
09. Stand nearby and watch toaster cook (is it getting too burnt?)
10. Wait for toaster to eject
11. Check if bread is cooked
12. Turn off power point
13. Remove toast and eat
14. Unplug toaster
15. Store away
FINISH

Enjoy eating!

Examples of Interactive Design

Orisinal: Morning Sunshine. 2001. http://www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/

Is a website that offers a variety of flash games which requires a large number of user involvement.


Phlush Magazine, Fluidx. http://phlush.influidx.net/

An online interactive flash magazine.

Interactive Design

Interaction design defines the structure and behaviors of interactive products and services, and user interactions with those products and services. Interaction Designers create compelling relationships between people and the interactive systems they use, from computers to mobile devices to appliances. Good interaction design effectively communicates a system’s interactivity and functionality, defines behaviors that communicate a system’s responses to user interactions, reveals both simple and complex workflows, informs users about system state changes, and prevents user error.
Interaction design is grounded in an understanding of real users (goals, tasks, experiences, needs, and wants) and balances these needs with business goals and technological capabilities.


Reference:
The Interaction Design Association. 11 March, 2009.
http://www.ixda.org/