Emerging Skills in Technical Communication: The Information Designer's Place in a New Career Path for Technical Communicators
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/stc/tc/2001/00000048/00000002/art00006
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  peer-reviewed

Carliner, Saul
Technical Communication Online
2001

Abstract:

As the responsibilities of and demand for technical communicators have grown, demand for a new set of skills called information design has emerged. Information design is preparing communication products so that they achieve performance objectives established for them. Although some technical communicators now call themselves information designers, the field originally emerged from architects, graphic designers, and library scientists, and related work by instructional designers. Information designers prepare blueprints for communication products. To do so effectively, they need skills in information design and development, the technology they are communicating, the technology of communication, the industries they are communicating to, and business skills. They must also be comfortable with a variety of media and genres. Moving to information design creates a new career ladder for technical communicators.