Week 1 Reading

Preface- I had to stop and think at one point when the phrase "An Amazing time to be a designer"came up. I think amazing is a little strong. Plus I went to the front of the book to see when it was published. I think technology plays a role in developing the designer today. I think that we need to embrace the technology and learn as much as we can and not turn our heads to the possibility of a new horizon in a digital age. I fear that some designers are pigeon holing themselves in a world of collateral and not expanding themselves to an open mind of web possibilities. In that sense, it can be amazing time for a designer. Only if and if they build on their assets and develop multi media web skills. I found the stories about information problems very interesting. Though, I found it strange that a person would put together a blender. My experience with this situation has been with nonuser friendly web sites. The kid where you have know idea where to click. Also you just need one piece of information and it takes 40 minutes to get it(I wouldn't really spend 40 minutes on a site like that).

Chapter 1- The beginning of the chapter was a discussion of what Information design is and the ways as human beings we take in information. I am a visual person, so I too respond to the visual engaging design before I even look at the words. The book also goes into the digital age we are in and how information is flying at us. We nee to assemble this information to make it user friendly. I enjoyed the antidote the book used for what makes good information design. The direct mail information was interesting some of it I knew from my advanced indesign class. I tend to notice a huge pile in the recycling bin at my apartments of direct mail. It doesn't make it past the mailbox.

Chapter 6-This chapter had some real world case studies using information graphics. I was drawn to blue Planet Foundation. I looked up the book and the photography is fabulous.

Hot links-
http://.johngrimwade.com/index.html

Excellent informational designer

http://showmenow.com/index.php

When I was in advanced illustrator this was a great book for our "how to graphic" I think it relevant because it is information graphics.