We live in a society of information overload. Whether it’s via the Internet, TV, billboards, newspapers, books or conversation our senses are being bombarded with different messages – often conflicting. Making sense of all this data requires it to be presented so it can be easily interpreted and is aesthetically pleasing. A dilemma we have all faced whether it’s designing a website, preparing a presentation or simply writing a monthly activity report.
So is there a right or wrong way of presenting information? Most will argue no, but in reality the answer is yes. Regardless of whether you are someone who cherry picks only the most relevant bits or shows every last detail for fear of missing anything out, unless that information is presented clearly it will be for the most part useless.
In ThirdForce we were recently planning our next generation of learner reports and whilst initially some schools of thought were the “keep it simple” approach the shortfalls soon became apparent. If the information is complex and you simplify it you run the risk of missing valuable points. The challenge then becomes how to display this complex information in the most straightforward, clearest manner possible.
Running to the design department is often the first reaction, however when it comes to presentation of information such as reports the true test is running to your customer and asking them how they want it interpreted. Then run to the design department to make it look good and easy to visually decipher!.
Data Journalist David McCandless provides some great examples of how designed information can help us to better understand the world around us. It can even be beautiful – www.informationisbeautiful.net. Take for example this timeline of global media scare stories, entitled Mountains out of Molehills it could go some way to explaining why Swine Flu has gained its recent notoriety.
Even if you already feel competent in presenting information, it’s worth having a look at this site, if only for purely personal informational purposes. It’s interesting to see his different methods and how they would affect large audiences in different ways. Sometimes a picture (and a few words) does actually tell a thousand words. Keep it clear but maintain the information!
