CITATION AND COPYRIGHT INFORMATION:
Cite as: Dervin, B., & Schaefer, D.J. (1998, March). Toward the communicative design of information design: A call for considering the communicating implied in the mandate for information design. Paper presented at Vision Plus 4: The Republic of Information—An International Symposium on Design for Global Communication, Carnegie Mellon University, University Center, PA.
© Brenda Dervin and David Schaefer (1998).

ABSTRACT:
This paper was delivered to a conference earmarked for web designers, engineers, artists, and others moving into a “new” terrain called “information design.” The authors stress that, in actuality, the subject of information design has been a long-time focus of the communication-related fields. The paper is primarily a critique of forging ahead on information design as if reinventing the wheel. The critique is presenting by: (a) reviewing a host of communication designs that were not responded to by users as expected, seeing this as in fact a typical outcome; (b) presenting a series of recent findings from empirical studies that focus on design as seen from the bottom; (c) reviewing hard truths about information design gleaned from a half-century of communication studies; and (d) calling for conceptualizing information design not as an information transmission problem but a communication problem.

TO OBTAIN FULL TEXT:
You may request access to the full text URL by completing this form. (This will open a new window.)

OTHER MATERIALS BY THESE AUTHORS ON THIS WEB SITE:
For Dervin,
See:  http://communication.sbs.ohio-state.edu/sense-making/AAauthors/authorlistdervin.html.
For Schaefer,
See: http://communication.sbs.ohio-state.edu/sense-making/AAauthors/authorlistschaefer.html.