Information Design for Beginners  

Learning about information design begins with understanding its definitions and exploring its key disciplines: technical writing, design, and usability. Information designers seek to combine skills in these broad fields to make complex information easier to understand. Specialists in the different fields often work together as a team to produce complex products. Stephan Boyd Davis, who teaches at Middlesex University in the United Kingdom, elaborates: “I take design to include fulfilling the practical needs of the intended users and incorporating an element of affect in the user’s experience, often pleasurable and including surprise, delight, satisfaction, and other responses.”

Taylor, Cheri W. STC Proceedings (2000). Presentations>Information Design

Information Design Progression  

The Information Design Progression will focus on exploring several diverse topics in the evolving field of information design, including graphic communication, design principles, usability, and information design in teams and in the community. The topics provide practical techniques, examples of information design in action, and useful information that can improve your own projects and skill set.

Taylor, Cheri W. STC Proceedings (1999). Presentations>Information Design

Starting a Chapter-Level Special Interest Group  

STC's special interest groups (SIGs) provide a way for STC members to share their interest in particular areas of technical communication. Society SIGs at the international level may have hundreds of members, and many publish a newsletter, host an electronic newsgroup, and sponsor events and sessions at STC's annual conferences. Chapter SIGs usually have fewer members, but, because their members live in the same area, they can meet regularly and address members'local needs.

Taylor, Cheri W. Tieline (2000). Articles>TC>Community Building