History of graphic communication examination
Information design
⁃ Information design is a broad field that can be applied to many
areas of design and everyday tasks.
⁃ It is, however, more used today to define information that
helps users navigate everyday life.
⁃ Broadly put, information design focuses on structure, user
needs and clear communication.
⁃ It can help us understand time (calendars or timetables) and
space (maps) and other sorts of everyday information, including
telephone directories, newspapers, fliers, advertisements, forms and
government interfaces.
⁃ Although the term ‘information design’ is a relatively recent
one, it can be applied to a range of historical types of design which
led to how we understand the field today.
⁃ “Information design embraces approaches and methodologies
that go beyond purely visual design.” - THE IDA: Information Design
Association: infodesign.org.uk
16th and 17th century:
Examples of info design;
⁃ Galileo Galilei, Drawings of Saturn in Istoria e dimostrazioni
intorno alle macchie solari (History and Demonstrations Concerning
Sunspots and their Properties), 1613.
⁃ Mercator Map’, 1569, Maritime Museum, Rotterdam
18th and 19th century;
⁃ Joseph Priestley (1733-1804), A Chart of Biography, 1765
⁃ Joseph Priestley A New Chart of History, 1769.
⁃ William Playfair (1759–1823), Chart of the National Debt of
England, 1786
Info for everyday life in the 19th century:
⁃ Bill-head, 1832, England, V&A Collections
⁃ Omnibus, c.1830s in David Jury, Graphic Design Before Graphic
Designers, p.106
⁃ Timetable, 1844 in Jury, Graphic Design Before Graphic
Designers, p.93
Dates:
⁃ 1527-1529 — Diogo Ribeiro's Carta Universal, version of ‘The
Padrón Real’ (first known scientific world map)
⁃ 1613 — Galileo Galilei’s Drawings of Saturn
⁃ 1786 — The publication of William Playfair’s graphs in The
Commercial and Political Atlas (first known bar chart)
Information design
⁃ Information design is a broad field that can be applied to many
areas of design and everyday tasks.
⁃ It is, however, more used today to define information that
helps users navigate everyday life.
⁃ Broadly put, information design focuses on structure, user
needs and clear communication.
⁃ It can help us understand time (calendars or timetables) and
space (maps) and other sorts of everyday information, including
telephone directories, newspapers, fliers, advertisements, forms and
government interfaces.
⁃ Although the term ‘information design’ is a relatively recent
one, it can be applied to a range of historical types of design which
led to how we understand the field today.
⁃ “Information design embraces approaches and methodologies
that go beyond purely visual design.” - THE IDA: Information Design
Association: infodesign.org.uk
16th and 17th century:
Examples of info design;
⁃ Galileo Galilei, Drawings of Saturn in Istoria e dimostrazioni
intorno alle macchie solari (History and Demonstrations Concerning
Sunspots and their Properties), 1613.
⁃ Mercator Map’, 1569, Maritime Museum, Rotterdam
18th and 19th century;
⁃ Joseph Priestley (1733-1804), A Chart of Biography, 1765
⁃ Joseph Priestley A New Chart of History, 1769.
⁃ William Playfair (1759–1823), Chart of the National Debt of
England, 1786
Info for everyday life in the 19th century:
⁃ Bill-head, 1832, England, V&A Collections
⁃ Omnibus, c.1830s in David Jury, Graphic Design Before Graphic
Designers, p.106
⁃ Timetable, 1844 in Jury, Graphic Design Before Graphic
Designers, p.93
Dates:
⁃ 1527-1529 — Diogo Ribeiro's Carta Universal, version of ‘The
Padrón Real’ (first known scientific world map)
⁃ 1613 — Galileo Galilei’s Drawings of Saturn
⁃ 1786 — The publication of William Playfair’s graphs in The
Commercial and Political Atlas (first known bar chart)
