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Course Information

Course Title: Interdisciplinary Information Design ID2

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Course Description: Every day, we are overloaded with a seemingly endless flow of information — social media feeds, news, advertising, emails, text messages. How do we know which information to pay attention to? Information design helps us navigate and understand our data-rich world. This interdisciplinary course explores how the information design process transforms data into meaning. Through hands-on, collaborative projects that highlight approaches from Computer Science, Communication Design, and Architecture, students will investigate the history and theory behind effective information design while employing user-centered practices. 

Credits / Hours: 2 lecture, 2 lab hrs, 3 cr  (WI – Writing Intensive)

Pre/Co-requisites: Pre- or Co-Requisite: ENG 1101 

Class Meetings

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Learning Outcomes

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES ASSESSMENT   
For the successful completion of this course, students should be able to: Evaluation methods and criteria: 
Theory and Concept: Demonstrate knowledge of history and theory of information design  Demonstrate knowledge through research blog posts, reflective journal entries, and/or short quizzes and assignments  
Theory and Concept: Exhibit an understanding of different views and definitions of information and information design as well as between data, information, and knowledge Visually and verbally express abstract concepts and feelings 
Physical: Understand concepts related to storage, transfer, and retrieval of information  Demonstrate knowledge through research blog posts, reflective journal entries, assignments, and/or short quizzes 
Semantic: Understand principles of design for communication Critique own work independently; develop and grow intellectually. Demonstrate knowledge through research blog posts, reflective journal entries, and/or assignments 
Behavioral: Exhibit concepts of narrative, structure and storytelling –how information affects conduct  Demonstrate knowledge through research blog posts, reflective journal entries, and assignments 
Project Design: Conduct research that includes data and survey collection  Demonstrate knowledge through organization and verbal communication for solving communication challenges 
Project Design: Analyze, organize, and assess findings  Demonstrate knowledge through organization, visual storytelling, and verbal communication  
Project Design: Define, design, and deliver final project Demonstrate knowledge through organization, visual storytelling, and verbal communication  

Teaching/Learning Methods

  • Lectures and readings 
  • Discussion and critiques  
  • OpenLab Discussion Posts/Comments 
  • Peer-to-peer critique 
  • Research Journal 
  • Examples / Reference  
  • Formal Presentations 
  • Class and individual projects 

Technology Requirements

Schedule

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Grading Policy

All projects, homework, in-class assignments, and discussion posts will be graded assignments.  Research, independent preparation, class participation, and verbal analysis of precedent information design work and concepts will also be taken into consideration. There will be no final examination. 

Grade Distribution 

The following grade scale is recommended for use in this course. The exact distribution of percentages will be determined by the individual section instructor. 

In this writing-intensive course, students are expected to write between 20-30 pages in total. 

Posts / Discussion Comments 20% (1 page weekly) 

Exploratory Papers 15% (1-2 pages each) 

Research Journal 10% (1 page weekly) 

Research Project & Presentation 25% (2-3 pages) 

Assignments 15% 

Productivity & Participation 15% 

Writing Intensive 

This course is designated “Writing Intensive.” Students will be writing every week, in class and on the OpenLab via weekly blog posts, peer-to-peer comments, and journal entries. Part of this practice will be presenting thoughtful reflections on their learning process in order to demonstrate a comprehension of relevant concepts. The instructor will provide timely feedback and guide students as they develop their project proposals and final presentations. Students will also submit critical written analyses of information design examples and readings leading to 1-2 page exploratory papers that use standard citation guidelines. 

Research Project 

The final project will cover material from lectures, class activities, weekly project work. Students will work in groups to implement data and research, explore tools, and create interactive design solutions that introduce the COMD, ARCH, CST Departments and the College to other students. 

Deliverables: a final presentation that presents data, research, and a design solution/prototype 

  • Data– Find interesting data sets that tell a story, providing students a way to explore the three departments and City Tech.  
  • Research– Think about information design questions to improve an understanding of the similarities and differences between departments, as well as what knowledge would help improve students’ college experience. Then use these ideas to design research, gather, and analyze data.   
  • Design Solution–  Building upon methods learned throughout the semester, explore creative information design solutions and present a prototype that communicates data to the audience 

Class Etiquette & Netiquette

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Attendance/Participation

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Academic Integrity Policy

Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting and citation of sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the college recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension and expulsion. More information about the College’s policy on Academic Integrity may be found in the College Catalog. 

Course Resources

Recommended Texts 

Meirelles, Isabel. Design for Information : An Introduction to the Histories, Theories, and Best Practices Behind Effective Information Visualizations, Quarto Publishing Group USA, 2013. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/citytech-ebooks/detail.action?docID=3399922. 

Floridi, Luciano. Information : A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2010. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/citytech-ebooks/detail.action?docID=737413. 

Specific books, magazines, and periodicals will vary with selected assignments.  Instructor will provide a materials list.  

Required Materials 

  • Sketchbook 
  • External drive or Dropbox account 
  • ArcGIS Online Account 

Bibliography 

  • The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood–James Gleick(2011) 
  • Data Visualization Handbook by Juuso Koponen and Jonatan HildĂ©n 
  • Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. Marshall McLuhan(1964) 
  • The Functional Art by Alberto Cairo 
  • The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward R. Tufte 
  • Information Visualization by Colin Ware 
  • W. E. B. Du Bois’s Data Portraits: Visualizing Black America 

Academic Support

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