Information Design Workbook: Graphic approaches, solutions, and inspiration plus 30 case studies (Hardcover)

by Kim Baer (Author), Jill Vacarra (Collaborator)
Key Phrases: infinite scale, white rhino, litigation graphics, Morgan Stanley, Funnel Incorporated, New York City (more...)

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Product Description

Currently there is nothing as comprehensive about this topic available.

 

This new volume takes a methodical yet comprehensive approach to conveying the fundamentals of avant-garde, innovative, information design by examining history, theory, criticism, technology and media, process, method, and practice.

 

Opening with a very brief history followed by an instructive breakdown of the discipline, readers will get an intimate understanding of the complexities of crafting information design to effectively improve communication both functionally and aesthetically. The back half of the book contains a wide range of case studies from design firms around the world so designers can see the techniques previously outlined in the first half of the book. The author critiques and explains why the design is successful in terms of formal quality (Aesthetics) and function (How does it improve communication?).

 

About the Author

Kim Baer, is principal of Los Angeles-based design studio KBDA, which she founded in 1982.

The firm's client list ranges from nonprofit organizations, such as the Prostate Cancer Foundation, UCLA, and Chamber Music Los Angeles, to consumer-oriented companies, such as Nike, Nissan, and Hilton Hotels.

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Product Details Hardcover: 240 pages Publisher: Rockport Publishers (May 1, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 1592534104 ISBN-13: 978-1592534104 Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 9.1 x 1 inches Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,663 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #18 in  Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Graphic Design > Commercial > Illustration #40 in  Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Graphic Design > Graphic Arts

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Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
infinite scale, white rhino, litigation graphics, about information design, information design projects, good information design, creative brief, type styling

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Morgan Stanley, Funnel Incorporated, New York City, Smart Design, Wilson Staff, Hello Design, Second Story, Hunt Design, Similar Diversity, Time Capsule, City of South Pasadena, Bureau Mijksenaar, Blue Planet Run, New York Times, History Shots, Crazy Egg, Digg Labs, Carbone Smolan Agency, Pentagram Design, World Filter, World Trade Center

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	73% buy the item featured on this page: Information Design Workbook: Graphic approaches, solutions, and inspiration plus 30 case studies 5.0 out of 5 stars (4) $26.40
	9% buy Data Flow: Visualising Information in Graphic Design 4.1 out of 5 stars (7) $49.14
	8% buy The Information Design Handbook 4.6 out of 5 stars (5) $26.40
	5% buy The Web Designer's Idea Book: The Ultimate Guide To Themes, Trends & Styles In Website Design 4.1 out of 5 stars (19) $16.50

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Customer Reviews

4 Reviews 5 star:  (4) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 5.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 16 of 16 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars This book practices what it preaches, with tons of examples, October 1, 2008 By  Parka (Singapore) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    Length:: 0:35 Mins Infographic artists or graphic designers who create designs to communicate ideas to people should like this book. The summary on the preface accurately describes this book and I'll quote it here. This book: - Leads you through the mindset and kind of thinking that support good information design. - Gives you an overview of the type of processes and tools you can use to create effective information design. - Shows real-world examples of successful products - Presents interviews with some of the premier practitioners working in the field today. This book talks about high level concepts to give an overview to information design. The first four chapters explains the need for effective design and provides lots of examples where they are used, and how helpful they are. Some examples include direct mail, litigation graphics, etc. Interviewees relates on what works and what doesn't through their own experience. There are several tools include to help designers. They include personas and scenario simulation, research and testing and even mundane stuff like using plain language. Of course not all might relate to everyone. I'm a newspaper artist and I don't do testing for every graphic that I produce. But they do give results for tests conducted, which can be applied to different fields. One chapter is devoted to design principles with examples from all medium. The last five chapters are the case studies. Each touches on a different medium and each comes with 6 real life success stories. That's 30 set of experience from the industry you can learn from. I'll like to conclude that this book practices what it preaches. The information on the pages is laid out nicely and easy to absorb. Here's the table of contents: Preface - Approaching information design from a user-centric point of view 1. About information design. What is it? Who is doing it? Why is it important? 2. Process: Discovery. A step-by-step look at the research and discovery process 3. Process: Prototypes and Testing. How user research and testing help to ensure successful design 4. Design Toolkit: Visual devices to help communicate information 5. Printed Matter Case Studies. Magazines, packaging and corporate communications 6. Information Graphics Case Studies. Maps, charts, and diagrams 7. Interactive Case Studies. Websites and other screen-based projects 8. Enviromental Case Studies. Wayfinding and exhibits 9. Experimental Case Studies. Information design that pushes the envelope. There are more pictures on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for my blog's link. 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book!!, January 17, 2009 By  Craig M. Berger (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    I am the Director of Education for the Society for Environmental Graphic Design and I must say that while I have never met the authors, I am amazed at their ability to put all the issues related to Information Design in a grand context. While I work in only one small area of ID it is great to see the issues across many disciplines and the book is well put together. Keep up the good work. 5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide and resource., April 10, 2009 By  Jessica Mans "elarayan" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This is one of those books I want all my friends, colleagues and former professors to read, but I'm too scared to loan out the copy for fear they won't return it. It is packed with useful tips, ideas, and stories, not just from the author but from information designers and agencies around the world. It's a great resource to know how processes work, what their problems are, and also who is actually out there setting the standards. The effort the author makes to collaborate with others working in the field and to share their points of view rather than to just preach her own thoughts is what sets this book a notch above the rest. It's a great book, whether you read it cover to cover, or use it as a source of information and inspiration. Highly recommended.		Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a Comprehensive Guide for ID Kim Baer knows what she is talking about. Her vast and varied client list makes her the de facto expert in the ID field. Read more Published 13 months ago by Claire R. Wynters Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Rockport Publishers (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592534104
• ISBN-13: 978-1592534104
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 9.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,663 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #18 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Graphic Design > Commercial > Illustration
  #40 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Graphic Design > Graphic Arts

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book practices what it preaches, with tons of examples, October 1, 2008

By	Parka (Singapore) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Length:: 0:35 Mins

Infographic artists or graphic designers who create designs to communicate ideas to people should like this book.

The summary on the preface accurately describes this book and I'll quote it here.

This book:
- Leads you through the mindset and kind of thinking that support good information design.
- Gives you an overview of the type of processes and tools you can use to create effective information design.
- Shows real-world examples of successful products
- Presents interviews with some of the premier practitioners working in the field today.



This book talks about high level concepts to give an overview to information design. The first four chapters explains the need for effective design and provides lots of examples where they are used, and how helpful they are. Some examples include direct mail, litigation graphics, etc. Interviewees relates on what works and what doesn't through their own experience.

There are several tools include to help designers. They include personas and scenario simulation, research and testing and even mundane stuff like using plain language. Of course not all might relate to everyone. I'm a newspaper artist and I don't do testing for every graphic that I produce. But they do give results for tests conducted, which can be applied to different fields.

One chapter is devoted to design principles with examples from all medium.

The last five chapters are the case studies. Each touches on a different medium and each comes with 6 real life success stories. That's 30 set of experience from the industry you can learn from.

I'll like to conclude that this book practices what it preaches. The information on the pages is laid out nicely and easy to absorb.

Here's the table of contents:
Preface - Approaching information design from a user-centric point of view
1. About information design. What is it? Who is doing it? Why is it important?
2. Process: Discovery. A step-by-step look at the research and discovery process
3. Process: Prototypes and Testing. How user research and testing help to ensure successful design
4. Design Toolkit: Visual devices to help communicate information
5. Printed Matter Case Studies. Magazines, packaging and corporate communications
6. Information Graphics Case Studies. Maps, charts, and diagrams
7. Interactive Case Studies. Websites and other screen-based projects
8. Enviromental Case Studies. Wayfinding and exhibits
9. Experimental Case Studies. Information design that pushes the envelope.

There are more pictures on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for my blog's link.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book!!, January 17, 2009

By	Craig M. Berger (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am the Director of Education for the Society for Environmental Graphic Design and I must say that while I have never met the authors, I am amazed at their ability to put all the issues related to Information Design in a grand context. While I work in only one small area of ID it is great to see the issues across many disciplines and the book is well put together.

Keep up the good work.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide and resource., April 10, 2009

By	Jessica Mans "elarayan" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is one of those books I want all my friends, colleagues and former professors to read, but I'm too scared to loan out the copy for fear they won't return it.

It is packed with useful tips, ideas, and stories, not just from the author but from information designers and agencies around the world. It's a great resource to know how processes work, what their problems are, and also who is actually out there setting the standards.

The effort the author makes to collaborate with others working in the field and to share their points of view rather than to just preach her own thoughts is what sets this book a notch above the rest.

It's a great book, whether you read it cover to cover, or use it as a source of information and inspiration. Highly recommended.