Information Design: The Understanding Discipline
http://www.boxesandarrows.com/archives/information_design_the_understanding_discipline.php

Knemeyer, Dirk
Boxes and Arrows
2003

Abstract:

There is not consensus on exactly what information design is. Definitions of the discipline from stakeholders who associate themselves with the field are consistent only in that they are typically high level, not very concrete and do not offer much in the way of direct practical application.