Study Guide

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
- explain the significance of understanding information and manage methods of implementing it in a range of different knowledge use contexts
- make use of usability psychology and user testing in visual planning
- acquire, analyse and organise complicated data for visualization purposes
- plan understandable information design solutions using visual design methods

Implementation and methods of teaching

The course includes three learning days implemented with the Zoom software, one classroom day (infographics), and one visiting day in Helsinki. The course has a preliminary assignment, which is given by e-mail in the welcome letter to those who have been accepted to the course one month before the start of the course. The course is a compact package of theory and practice – active participation is important, especially in the first two days. Lectures are not recorded, the course includes small exercises to be done in class.

Timing and attendance

03.11.2023 10.00 - 17.00 Harri Heikkilä: Intro to information design • Gestalt laws •  Heuristic evaluation • User testing
04.11.2023 10.00 - 16.00 Harri Heikkilä: Cases – Typography • Form design • Signage • Interface design
10.11.2023 10.00 - 17.00 Jonatan Hilden: Cases – Data visualisation
18.11.2023 10.00 - 16.00 Antti Heinonen: Cases – Information graphics
24.11.2023 09.00 - 16.00 Harri Heikkilä: Cases – Virtual visiting day

Learning material and recommended literature

Johnson, Jeff (2010): Designing with the mind in mind
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According your own interest to support your end work:

Baer, Kim.; Vacarra, Jill (2008)
Information design workbook graphic approaches, solutions, and inspiration + 30 case studies

Krug, Steve (2010)
Rocket Surgery Made Easy
New Riders

Krug, Steve (2014)
Don't Make Me Think, Revisited

Enders, Jessica (2016)
Designing UX: Forms • Create Forms That Don't Drive Your Users Crazy

Calori, Chris and Vanden-Eynden, David (2015):
Signage and Wayfinding Design: A Complete Guide to Creating Environmental Graphic Design Systems

Learning environment

Zoom, Class and visiting day

Student time use and work load

5 cr (135 h)

Contents

The course introduces the tradition of information design widely. The curriculum progresses from perceptual psychological theory to practical examples, such as expert evaluation of usability and knowledge of the most critical areas of information design, such as infographics and data visualization, as well as the basics of typography and user interface design.

Assessment criteria

Basis of evaluation: own development task as an end work, tasks given in lectures, activity and preliminary task

Assessment scale

1-5

Failed (0)

Did not reach level 1, attendance was below 80 %

Assessment criteria: level 1 (assessment scale 1–5)

The student
- Understands the meaning of information comprehensibility and is able to derive the means to implement it in different contexts
- Understand usability psychology and user testing in design
- Knows how to acquire, analyze, and structure data for visualization purposes
- Able to design understandable information design solutions

Assessment criteria: level 3 (assessment scale 1–5)

The student can
- justify the importance of information comprehensibility and derive means for its implementation in various information use contexts
- utilize usability psychology and user testing in design
- acquire, analyze and structure more than just simple data for visualization purposes
- plan and implement high-quality information design solutions

Assessment criteria: level 5 (assessment scale 1–5)

The student
- can critically justify the importance of information comprehensibility and derive functional and appropriate means for its implementation in various and demanding information use contexts
- knows how to effectively and creatively utilize usability psychology and combined user testing & heuristic evaluation in design
- can acquire, analyze, structure, and creatively but clearly apply complex data for visualization purposes
- knows how to plan, implement and create information design solutions that combine good usability with good visual skills