Information Design
We all interact with technologies, be it a website or a washing machine, a camera or an ATM machine. Now, either the interaction is smooth and successful or frustrating, it all depends on the interaction design. Whenever someone is using a technology device, that person is a user and that experience he or she is having with the device is called the user experience. To make that experience great and satisfying, someone has to work on it.
The users never interact with the inner technology or software of the device, they interact with the outer interface that helps or directs them to use the device. How intuitive or easy is the interface, defines whether the user experience is good or bad. Good user experience does not happen on its own, often there is an individual or team who has worked hard to make the experience valuable for the user and also fulfilling the purpose of the business sponsoring the product.
Use Experience does not apply to simple everyday products, but applicable to complicated technology driven products. Now, it is very important that the user interaction design of these products, like how to use the buttons, the tabs etc are very intuitive. It is so, because when the user is trying to figure out how to use the complicated device, he or she is not having any external help, they have to find on their own how to use the device.
A website which is difficult to use will drive away potential customers or will hinder the process of conversions. On the other hand, visitors will trust and love to come back to sites which are easy to use.
Initially User Experience was limited to the Web or Websites, but now it has broadened its horizons to any technology device that has an interface capable of providing an experience to the users. It may even include offline device like an interface helping visitors with a tour of a big museum.
What is Information Design?
Interaction Design is closely related to Information Design, it often happens while working on a project that the boundaries between the streams began to blur and fade. Students of Interaction Design and Interface Design often end up working in the same field of UX/UI Design.
Information Design does the job of communicating information to the user so that it is understood and used in the best possible manner.
Interaction Design is about understanding the human psychology and designing interface keeping that in mind to provide a successful user experience.
How to design good UX/UI Design?
- Identify your target audience: The designer needs to identify who the end user is and how they are going to use the interface: whether you are designing an application for teenagers or senior citizens, it makes a lot of difference. Or, lets say the use of application is educational or listening to music, the context of use is also important.
- Understand Human Behaviour and Psychology: It is important to understand how humans interact with technology, understanding their behavior and then design to provide a satisfying and enjoyable experience.
- Understand the requirements of the business: Some company or business is sponsoring the product for the users, so it is important that their business goals are also met.
Role of the Designer
- User Research – You need to perform some amount of research on you users and competitors. Also you should interview the business owners to understand what they expect from the project.
- Prototyping, Sketching, Storyboarding, Testing and creating Mock Ups.
- Understanding conventional and best industry standards about buttons, form layout
- Understanding Human Computer Interaction (HCI)
- Co-ordinating with Programmers and Developers.
Information Design Education
Candidates who want to pursue a career in Information Design can study the course at Undergraduate & Postgraduate level. Popular colleges that offer courses in Information Design include NID, etc.
Information Design Eligibility Criteria
For Graduation Degree: Though eligibility criteria may vary, but most colleges allow candidates who have completed 10+2 (Science/Commerce/Arts stream) from a recognized board to take part in their admission process.
For Postgraduation Degree: To pursue a Masters in Information Design, a Bachelors Degree in design is required.
Information Design Entrance Exam
All popular colleges conduct entrance exams in order to offer admissions to aspiring candidates. Some of the top Entrance Exams for Design are conducted by NID, NIFT and CEPT.
Information Design Course Curriculum
- Design Research
- Information Architecture
- Navigation Design
- Design Semantics
- Digital Products
- Social Psychology
- Web & Mobile Designs
- Data Analysis
- Technology Trends
- User Centred Design
About the Author: Anu Handa is an Interior Designer, DIY Artist, Co-Founder and Educator at Mosaic Institute of Design. She has been the lead blogpost writer at www.mosaicdesigns.in since 2009. Her educational background in Interior Design, Urban Planning and the English Language has given her a broad base to cover a range of topics in her articles. Anu has spent 15+ years training Design & B.Arch Aspirants for entrance exams.
Passionate about Design Education, she’s briefly worked with Annamalai University as a paper setter for Design Exams. Likes to write about Design, Architecture and related fields, on online platforms like Quora. Aims at challenging the conventional & age old teaching methodology.
