Information Design Program
A project in creative advanced education
The Information Design Program seeks to be an innovative educational
venture that serves two purposes:
-
To create the best program of its kind in this new interdisciplinary field.
-
To experiment with new forms of creative educational structures.
This project needs to emerge and unfold within a formal educational institution
that is innovation oriented. The Atelier can collaborate in establishing
such a program, without however hosting it.
The aim of the project is to create an intellectual structure that uses
the best in new technologies and in learning research to establish an advanced
educational program to prepare the information design leaders of the future.
Their preparation involves coming to grips with the nature of information
as it interacts with societal structures through the evolving technologies;
with an ease of adaptation to these future technologies; with an aesthetic
sense that is ever creative and user-centered; and with the social skills
that invite collaboration and good project management. Information design
in the context of the evolving technologies is a new field and one that
will continue to evolve rapidly. The Program to be established must be
always on the leading-edge of the fields it intersects and can be expected
to become the model for many such programs around the world as these are
established.
The focus of the Program is the development of a new information
design sensibility.
The design of the Program will of course fit the institutional context
within which it is offered and will be designed by those involved in that
context.
The following are some initial thoughts that could influence the eventual
design...
-
The Program might initially be offered at the Master's level. It could
also offer certificates for those who seek more limited engagement.
-
The Program should explore the Virtual Studio concept and enroll students
from anywhere. The Program should be naturally international in scope and
reach.
-
The Program should experiment with various forms of involvement in terms
of online/on-site participation. Much learning and teaching will likely
be done via means of telecommunication / tele-presence. Campus residence
will likely be a required part of the Program, but should remain flexible.
Other presential events can be organized for students, alumni, and faculty
around main information design conferences and events. This distance-learning
component of the Program is an exciting aspect of educational experimentation
in the Program.
-
Partnerships with institutions, professionals and businesses would be very
fruitful. Linkages should be established and strongly nurtured.
-
All students, in the course of their first year, should be required to
link up with a professional practice and with some design research group
or organization. These linkages provide a live setting for the student's
design thinking and also direct input from the field into the Program and
all its members.
-
Both a systems approach to curriculum / course development and a formal
evaluation process are essential to ensure quality and gain outside respect.
-
The area of study requires both a studio approach of practical creation
and an intellectual approach of understanding and appreciation. Courses
should be project-based, with all projects having an intellectual descriptive/appreciative
element as well as being published on the web [in various forms].
-
The community aspect of the Program is very important and all alumni should
naturally continue linking with the Program in one form or another. The
Program becomes an event.
Other elements of design will emerge naturally in collaboration.
Philip Duchastel via e-mail