58125 Creative Information Design

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular semester, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Handbook description

This subject introduces students to the principles of creative information design: audience analysis, contextual writing, colour, typography and layout. Students design, create the content and produce for selected clients useful information products in a range of digital and non-digital formats and media. The design process introduces students to creative problem-solving, collaborative work practices and the principles of usability and self-assessment. Students begin the development of their course-wide ePortfolio which contains examples of work such as specialised written texts, brochures, images and webpages.

Subject objectives/outcomes

At the end of this subject students will be able to:

1. explain the theories and principles of information design
2. communicate through a variety of formats, including writing for specific audiences, contexts, purposes and applications
3. design and edit communications and creative expression
4. apply relevant technologies and creative problem solving to information design problems
5. collaborate in team-based work practices
6. set goals and learning objectives within a course-wide professional portfolio
7. reflect constructively on their learning.

Contribution to course aims and graduate attributes

This subject makes a major contribution to the students' capacity to apply their knowledges and skills in user-centered and contextual design in order to communicate through writing and designing information products. In addition it contributes to the students' capacities for reflection, to inquire critically, work collaboratively and evaluate their own work.

Teaching and learning strategies

Teaching strategies will strive to promote interactive learning and to foster exploration extending beyond the classroom. The weekly program will involve lectures, group discussions, collaborative workshops and computer laboratory sessions to develop the technical skills necessary for completion of assignments. Students will be using industry-standard technologies that enable them to create diverse types of information products which contain text and image formats. Active participation at all stages will be essential for successful completion of this course. Students will be expected to prepare for class discussions, using readings and computer exercises as required. Participation on the subject's UTS Online community for discussions and collaborations will also be a significant component of the program.

Content

• client needs analysis through tools and techniques such as persona, scenarios, task and process analysis
• creating textual content — how to adjust writing to specific audiences; how the organisational structures and writing style affect audiences; editing in a variety of situations, including collaborative editing
• image creation and manipulation
• basic HTML and web design skills.
• lifelong learning and professional portfolio development

Assessment

Assessment Item 1: Writing wiki

Assessment Item 2: Design of a print-based information product

Assessment Item 3: Professional Portfolio

Minimum requirements

Attendance is essential in this subject. Classes are based on a collaborative approach which involves workshopping and interchange of ideas. Students are required to attend a minimum of ten classes.
To pass in this subject, students must submit all components of assessment and reach a satisfactory level overall.

Required texts

There is no set textbook for this subject. Specific readings will be assigned for each week. The reference list below is indicative of the texts we will be using in the class.

References

Barrett, H.C. 2007, 'Researching electronic portfolios and learner engagement: the REFLECT initiative', Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, vol. 50, no. 6, pp. 436-449.

Beyer, H. & Holtzblatt, K. 1998, Contextual design : defining customer-centered systems, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, San Francisco, Calif.

Brown, D.M. 2007, Communicating design: developing Web site documentation for design and planning, Peachpit Press, Berkeley, Calif.

Candy, P.C. 2000, 'Reaffirming a proud tradition: universities and lifelong learning', Active Learning in Higher Education, vol.1, no.2, pp: 101-125.

Carter, R., Day, B. & Meggs, P.B. 2012, Typographic design: form and communication, 5th edn, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, N.J.Coe, M. 1996, Human factors for technical communicators. New York, Wiley

Cooper, A., Reimann, R., & Cronin, D. 2012, About face 3: the essentials of interaction design. Wiley.

Dillon, A. 2003, Designing usable electronic text, 2nd edn, Taylor & Francis, New York.

Dumas, J.S. & Redish, J.C. 1999, A practical guide to usability testing, intellect, Exeter.

Garrett, J.J. 2003, The elements of user experience: user-centered design for the Web, American Institute of Graphic Arts, New York.

Hackos, J.T. & Redish, J.C. 1998, User and task analysis for interface design, Wiley, New York.

Hix, D. & Hartson, H.R. 1993, Developing user interfaces: ensuring usability through product & process, Wiley, New York.

Horn, R.E. 1998, Visual language: global communication for the 21st century, MacroVU, Bainbridge Island, Wash.

Katz, J. 2012, Designing information: human factors and common sense in information design, Wiley, Hoboken, New Jersey.

Lidwell, W., K. Holden, et al. 2003, Universal principles of design. Gloucester, Mass, Rockport Publishers, Inc.

Nielsen, J. 2000, Designing Web usability: The practice of simplicity, New Riders, Indianapolis Ind).

Norman, D.A. 1988, 1990, The design of everyday things, Doubleday, New York.

Pettersson, R. 2002, Information design: an introduction [electronic book]. Philadelphia, John Benjamins Pub. Co.

Schriver, K.A. 1997, Dynamics in document design, Wiley Computer Pub., New York.

(2002, Style manual for authors, editors and printers. Milton, Qld., John Wiley & Sons.

Tufte, E.R. 1990, Envisioning information, Graphics Press, Cheshire, Conn.

Watson, D. 2003, Death sentence : the decay of public language, Random House Australia, Milsons Point, N.S.W.

Wyrick, J. 2008, Steps to writing well: with additional readings, Thomson/Wadsworth, Boston

Zinsser, W. 2001, On writing well : the classic guide to writing nonfiction 7th ed, New York, NY, Quill.

Other resources

Journals

Information Design Journal

Technical Comunication