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Article published In:
Information Design Journal
Vol. 26:1 (2021) ► pp.33–52

Understanding the impact of supporting conceptual information design

Structure, externalizations and flexibility matter

ORCID logo | Princeton University

This article argues that supporting conceptual information design should be a priority as it could better equip design practitioners for their jobs. Findings from a longitudinal evaluation of a tool – MapCI Cards – using multiple methods to assess the impact of supporting conceptual design in professional practice are reported here. Internal and external factors emerged as having an adverse influence on information designers’ responses to conceptual design. Increased conceptual design awareness and more confident decisions resulted from working with a support tool. Structure, flexibility, and externalizations are indicated as possible ways to effectively support conceptual information design. The article ends with recommendations for future support tools.

Keywords: information design, conceptual design, structure, flexibility, externalizations
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Related work
    • Understanding the impact of conceptual design
    • Information designers’ responses to conceptual design
    • Overview of tools supporting conceptual design
      • Computer technology tools
      • Analogue tools
    • MapCI Cards: A conceptual information design support tool
  • Methods
    • Participants
    • Data collection and analysis
  • Using MapCI Cards in professional practice
    • Changes in workflow
      • Increased awareness
      • Increased structure
    • Factors influencing conceptual design
    • Conceptual design phases requiring diverse degrees of support
      • Problem understanding
      • Audience understanding
      • Subject matter understanding
      • Analysis & synthesis
      • Concept design
    • Conceptual design outputs paving the way forward
  • Implications of supporting conceptual information design
  • Recommendations for conceptual information design support tools
  • Conclusions and future work
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
Published online: 26 April 2021
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/idj.20015.fon
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