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Re: What happened to information architecture and design
Subject:Re: What happened to information architecture and design From:Jonathan Baker <jbaker2525 -at- gmail -dot- com> To:"Janoff, Steven" <Steven -dot- Janoff -at- hologic -dot- com> Date:Tue, 29 Mar 2016 15:52:24 -0400
There is a simple, crass answer to why Horne et al's vision of handling
information hasn't been vigorously pursued - money.
On Tuesday, March 29, 2016, Janoff, Steven <Steven -dot- Janoff -at- hologic -dot- com>
wrote:
> Yes, that was presented in Tufte's book(s).
>
> In the OP I mentioned that Tufte has been pretty well represented.
>
> I was looking for more along the lines of a continuation of the work of
> Richard Saul Wurman, Robert E. Horn, and others of that ilk.
>
> There's a nice book called "Information Design" edited by Robert Jacobson
> -- it's a bit dated and somewhat academic, but it seemed to be aiming
> toward a continuation of that path. I haven't seen much since then that
> takes up the torch. And I wonder why? These were great ideas.
>
>
>http://www.amazon.com/Information-Design-Press-Robert-Jacobson/dp/0262600358
>
> Also note that the Minard example is heavily graphics-oriented. (It's a
> brilliant piece, by the way, I don't doubt that.) Most tech writers don't
> have that kind of graphic ability. You can work with a graphic artist or
> tech illustrator to realize your vision, but there are also ways to
> incorporate fundamental images that don't require an art degree. Although,
> a real infographics piece generally shows an artist's hand.
>
> Anyway... it continues to baffle me why nothing much is written about
> this, certainly compared to DITA, single-sourcing, content management,
> "intelligent content," and the various tools for document production.
>
> I look forward to any really good examples anyone finds (and this Minard
> one is good, so it's always good to see top-tier examples -- thanks, Lin --
> and I like your story at the end too :).
>
> Steve
>
> --
> On Tuesday, March 29, 2016 12:08 PM, Lin Sims wrote:
>
> Well, there's always the classic example of the march of Napoleon's Grand
> Army to, and from, Russia. It's by Charles Joseph Minard. Minard really
> hated Napoleon, so the emperor's name does not appear on the graphic at all.
>
>https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Minard.png
>
> --
> On Tue, Mar 29, 2016 at 2:44 PM, Janoff, Steven <Steven -dot- Janoff -at- hologic -dot- com
> <javascript:;>> wrote:
> This is provocative information and I hope that line of thought continues.
>
> At the same time, I want to bring back a parallel thread on the purpose of
> the original post, which was to try to find examples of good or great
> information design and information architecture in perhaps publicly
> available tech comms publications (print, web, mobile, etc.).
>
> I'll bet there are a few infographics out there that are extra-special and
> really encapsulate what fantastic information design/architecture is all
> about -- I haven't seen them yet. I can find a hundred infographics not a
> single one of which seems necessary or even helpful.
>
> What is it about good information design or good information architecture
> that galvanizes you?
>
> To me it's when I see a documentation piece that presents the perfect
> combination of text and images to immediately convey information and
> learning to me, especially in a way that not only do I remember it for days
> or weeks afterward, but it leaves such an impression that I just can't stop
> thinking about how good it is -- and I might continue to be impressed even
> years later.
>
> I guess it's about how the brain works and how it perceives, assimilates,
> and organizes information.
>
> I wish I had an example to link to, of what I'm talking about, but I don't
> have one handy. I posted one a few years back (map of the Internet) but it
> looks very uninspiring now, after everything that's flowed through our
> minds in the past 4 years.
>
> I want to see what's out there that's really good.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Steve
>
> --
> On Tuesday, March 29, 2016 8:14 AM, Mark Baker wrote:
>
> The concept of semantics has generated endless confusion over the years.
> ...
>
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