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Carel Kuitenbrouwer | 3 Jan 2007 15:41
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Re: InfoD-Cafe: Ragged Right?

Dear Gunnar et al,
I think I agree with most of what you write about the fervent  
arguments made for ragged right or justified based on the wrong  
examples. It all depends on how well either of them is done and both  
serve different needs.
In the discussion (though I have to admit I didn't read everything  
that passed) I haven't read much about the difference between two  
kinds of ragged rights. In Dutch we call them 'vrije regelval' and  
'Engelse regelval', which could be translated into 'free right' and  
'English right' and they mean WITHOUT hyphenation and WITH  
respectively. Off course, the first will use more space, but what  
about readability? Is it not in a lot of cases preferable NOT to  
break up words? Or at least to do this in a sensible way (wich is  
something we non-english-speakers couldn't begin to follow, but  
that's another point entirely)
Happy New Year,
Carel

Op 28 dec 2006, om 3:33 heeft Swanson, Gunnar het volgende geschreven:

> from: David Sless sent: Thu 11/23/2006 6:56 PM
>> Paul is too modest.
>>
>> The article he mentions is one of the best I have ever read
>> on the subject. Further, I think it's a model of good writing
>> in Information Design. It combines the best of craft know-how,
>> critical reviewing of the relevant research and a careful
>> articulation of principles--a model of what academics call the
>> blend between theory and practice.
>
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Mark Barratt | 4 Jan 2007 00:05

InfoD-Cafe: Conference ATypI 2007

Dates announced for ATypI 2007 Brighton conference

The 2007 ATypI conference will take place from Wednesday 12 September to 
Sunday 16 September 2007 in Brighton, UK, the Association announced today.

The conference, organised in collaboration with the Faculty of Arts and 
Architecture at the University of Brighton, will have the theme 'Hands on'.

In recent years, the ATypI conference has consisted of a specialist 
two-day 'TypeTech' focusing on digital font development tools and 
techniques, followed by the main conference, consisting of three days of 
presentations, seminars and workshops.

"For the 2007 conference, we're also going to take advantage of 
Brighton's excellent practical facilities and location to host a series 
of practical workshops and masterclasses," said ATypI's Barbara Jarzyna. 
"We have a lot of ideas and contacts which we will be developing those 
over the next couple of months."

A call for conference papers, TypeTech papers, and workshop/masterclass 
proposals will be issued later in January.

More details will be posted on the ATypI website (http://atypi.org) over 
the coming weeks.

ATypI (Association Typographique Internationale) is the premier 
worldwide organisation dedicated to type and typography. Founded in 
1957, ATypI provides the structure for communication, information and 
action amongst the international type community.
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pagl | 4 Jan 2007 10:45
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InfoD-Cafe: Selling InfoDesign as an option to undergrads

We all know that although information design one of the most vital aspects
of  visual communication, it is perceived as the 'Cinderella' of graphic
design, especially when compared to advertising and branding, for example.

Last year I was unsuccessful in launching an information design elective for
Level 2 graphic design undergraduates (alongside five others). Only five
opted to take it which was not a viable number. I want to attempt to launch
it again next year. The descriptor given to promote the elective is below:

Information design enables people to make sense of the world around them and
helps them navigate their way through it.

It uses basic graphic and illustrative language to interpret and explain
both simple everyday objects and operations as well as complex abstract
processes. Information design is also valuable as a research tool, enabling
data to be visualised and analysed in a way that is accessible, creative and
exciting.

Keywords: mapping, signs and symbols, way-finding/signage, designing for
people, visualising data, explanations, instructions, visual research

Good for developing individual skills in: visual language concepts,
communicating information, typography, illustration, research methods

Component outcome: a well-researched, creative project that demonstrates an
understanding of information design through 2D, 3D and 4D outcomes - in one
of the following areas:
·    way-finding (signage & mapping) system
·    instructing how to use a process, technique, technology, product, etc.
·    explaining an event, system, subject
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Nicholas Giusto | 5 Jan 2007 19:14
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InfoD-Cafe: Open positions

Café,

There are two open postions at Autodesk's San
Francisco office: Product visual designer and
Product visual design lead (Product meaning
software). The two positions do not offer
relocation services.

Here is the meat of the job requirements:

1/ Design, create and maintain graphics assets
for the products. This includes icons, cursors,
diagrams, interface look & feel and illustrations
for on-line help. 

2/ Author visual design standards that reinforce
good visual design practices. Continue and extend
on visual standards that have already been
established for software families, as well as
create new style guides as required.

3/ Contribute visual design expertise to product
teams by working closely with software engineers
and interaction designers.

If you would like to know more about the
positions, email me at: nick.giusto <at> autodesk.com

___________________________________________________________________
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Conrad Taylor | 7 Jan 2007 18:48
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InfoD-Cafe: Another briefing: "Metadata's many meanings and uses"

Thanks to those who have commented on my previous
briefing about "raw" digital camera files.

I've just finished another such briefing, this one
driven in part by my interest in discussions that we
have been having within the British Computer Society
about knowledge and information management.

"Metadata's many meanings and uses" is a 21-page paper
that is available from the following URL:

    http://www.ideography.co.uk/briefings/index.html

It's taken me quite a while to get this paper together;
you could say it kept me warm during Christmas...  in the
process of preparing it I have discovered that the term
"metadata" first arose within the data management community
in the 1970s and meant one thing; then in the mid-1990s
the word was picked up by librarians and the Web crowd
and given a rather different meaning.

Trying to unify these ideas, I was pushed towards a viewpoint
that there is a general phenomenon of what I'd call "meta-ness"
in all kinds of computer information, in that within such
an environment it's very common for information/data to be
meaningful only in the context of some definition or standard.

Anyway, there it is, and welcome to it!

Regards to all & happy new year,
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Caroline Jarrett | 8 Jan 2007 18:51
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Re: InfoD-Cafe: Selling InfoDesign as an option to undergrads

hi Paul

Suppose I'm an aspiring graphic designer thinking about what to choose 
for level 2. Some wild guesswork here, but I think I'd be interested 
in:

- glamour. What's cool about information design?
- hot techniques. What will I learn how to do that I wouldn't learn in 
another elective?
- employability. What jobs will this help me to get?

But when I look at your descriptor, I can't easily pick out answers to 
any of those questions.

Does that help?

Best,
Caroline Jarrett
caroline.jarrett <at> effortmark.co.uk
01525 370379

Effortmark Ltd
Usability - Forms - Surveys
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "pagl" <pagl <at> dmu.ac.uk>
To: <infodesign-cafe <at> list.informationdesign.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 9:45 AM
Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Selling InfoDesign as an option to undergrads

We all know that although information design one of the most vital
(Continue reading)

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Stephen Boyd Davis | 14 Jan 2007 22:00
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InfoD-Cafe: Job: Research Fellow in Electronic Arts, London -- now open for application

-- Apologies for cross-posting --

Research Fellow in Electronic Arts
Lansdown Centre for Electronic Arts
Middlesex University
London

£25,723 - £31,933

For funding reasons this post is not available part-time.

Closing date 29 January 2007.

SHORT DESCRIPTION
For more detail please see http://www.mdx.ac.uk/jobs (job description and
application pack).

An opportunity to undertake research at the Lansdown Centre for Electronic
Arts, a multidisciplinary research centre with an international reputation.
See more at: http://www.cea.mdx.ac.uk

Possible areas of research include Sonic Arts, Interactive Media, and Film,
Video and Interactive Arts, but applicants are welcome to make proposals
which extend the Centre¹s current range of activities. Applications are
welcome from those with art, design, science or other backgrounds. You will
be expected to produce research outputs of national, and preferably
international, significance.

You should:
­ have a research degree, normally a PhD, or a clear indication that you are
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Rob Waller | 15 Jan 2007 15:34

Re: InfoD-Cafe: Selling InfoDesign as an option to undergrads

Re Paul’s recruitment problem, I would focus on two things you don’t already mention:
  • information design makes a difference to people’s lives: it appeals to students with a social conscience
  • employment prospects. According to www.prospects.ac.uk, around 11,000 people graduate in art and design in the UK each year, but only around 35% get jobs they are directly trained for (18% get jobs in catering). But information design consultancies complain of a shortage of job applicants.  

Rob Waller

Rob Waller
Head of Information Design
+44 (0) 20 7559 7522 (direct)
+44 (0) 7850 665 933 (mobile)
www.enterpriseig.co.uk
ENTERPRISE IG 11-33 St. John Street, London, EC1M 4PJ
THE GLOBAL BRAND AGENCY
Happy birthday to us! This year we’re celebrating our 30th anniversary. We began in 1976 as a small branding and design agency. 30 years on, we’ve grown up to be one of the world’s leading global brand agencies with nearly 600 people in 22 offices in 20 countries. We build preference and differentiation for our major multinational and blue-chip clients through identity, brand architecture and communications. Our multi-disciplinary teams create inspirational and memorable packaging, product and information design, POS, brand language, retail manifestation, brand experience, brand environment, live events and interactive media. Read more about how we’ve kept our clients happy all this time at www.enterpriseig.co.uk 





___________________________________________________________________

Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: 
 infodesign-cafe <at> list.informationdesign.org

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit:
 http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe

For all Information Design matters:
 http://InformationDesign.org

Problems? Write to:
 InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin <at> list.InformationDesign.org
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pagl | 16 Jan 2007 09:54
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Re: InfoD-Cafe: Selling InfoDesign as an option to undergrads

Thanks Rob - that's more specific and strategic.

Paul

> Re Paul¹s recruitment problem, I would focus on two things you don¹t already
> mention:
> * information design makes a difference to people¹s lives: it appeals to
> students with a social conscience
> * employment prospects. According to www.prospects.ac.uk, around 11,000
> people graduate in art and design in the UK each year, but only around 35%
> get jobs they are directly trained for (18% get jobs in catering). But
> information design consultancies complain of a shortage of job applicants.
> 
> Rob Waller 
> 
> Rob Waller 
> Head of Information Design
> 
> +44 (0) 20 7559 7522 (direct)
> +44 (0) 7850 665 933 (mobile)
> 
> www.enterpriseig.co.uk
> 
> ENTERPRISE IG 11-33 St. John Street, London, EC1M 4PJ
> 
> THE GLOBAL BRAND AGENCY
> Happy birthday to us! This year we're celebrating our 30th anniversary. We
> began in 1976 as a small branding and design agency. 30 years on, we've grown
> up to be one of the world's leading global brand agencies with nearly 600
> people in 22 offices in 20 countries. We build preference and differentiation
> for our major multinational and blue-chip clients through identity, brand
> architecture and communications. Our multi-disciplinary teams create
> inspirational and memorable packaging, product and information design, POS,
> brand language, retail manifestation, brand experience, brand environment,
> live events and interactive media. Read more about how we've kept our clients
> happy all this time at www.enterpriseig.co.uk
> ___________________________________________________________________
> 
> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers:
>  infodesign-cafe <at> list.informationdesign.org
> 
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit:
>  http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe
> 
> For all Information Design matters:
>  http://InformationDesign.org
> 
> Problems? Write to:
>  InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin <at> list.InformationDesign.org
> ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: 
 infodesign-cafe <at> list.informationdesign.org

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit:
 http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe

For all Information Design matters:
 http://InformationDesign.org

Problems? Write to:
 InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin <at> list.InformationDesign.org
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Conrad Taylor | 17 Jan 2007 14:46
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InfoD-Cafe: Locator maps for the blind...

Yes, I realise that there is a contradiction in that
Subject line; let me tell you the story.

The British Computer Society's London meeting rooms are
an increasingly popular venue for BCS chapters and groups
to meet.  Last year I noticed that the locator map which
the BCS was using was not as clear as it might be, so I
redesigned it.  I placed the map (and an enlarged inset)
on a Web page that includes some advice for people coming
to the place via various forms of public transport.

Later, I created a one-page PDF in which the maps were
presented in vector form, with a more concise version of
the public transport information.

It's here: http://www.epsg.org.uk/locations/bcsss-guide.html

The new map is quite popular with a number of the BCS groups,
who now cite that URL in their publicity for meetings to be
held at that venue.

Now, I didn't bother to save the PDF with the "accessibility"
features, in part because I wanted it to be compatible with
earlier-model Acrobat Reader software.

I have been contacted by the BCS IT people, who had been
approached by one of our blind members, who wanted the PDF
to have the "accessibility" features turned on so that he
could read its content with JAWS screen-reader software.

I have written back to explain that the textual information
on the Web-page version is almost certainly JAWS-readable,
but that the main point is that the locator information
relies overwhelmingly for its presentation on the use of
maps -- which a blind person cannot use and which JAWS
cannot render intelligently either.

It does strike me as odd that so obvious a point should
have escaped their notice!

I have suggested that what is needed is a parallel resource,
specially authored, an entirely textual description of how
to get to No 5 Southampton Street that makes no use of maps
or diagrams at all.  Also I guess one must eschew forms of
description that refer to the visible landscape that can't
be encountered any other way.

Is anyone aware of anyone who hase looked into this issue
of purely textual (or maybe audio-augmented?) locator guides
for blind people?

Conrad

-- 
See you at the Information Design Conference?
Greenwich, London, 29 and 30 March 2007
http://www.informationdesignassociation.org/idc2007/
___________________________________________________________________

Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: 
 infodesign-cafe <at> list.informationdesign.org

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit:
 http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe

For all Information Design matters:
 http://InformationDesign.org

Problems? Write to:
 InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin <at> list.InformationDesign.org
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Gmane