Information Design, Wayne Kronz, Part Two

I have decided to make three parts out of this Information Design post. This, then is Part Two.

Here, I present eight views of a pleasant user experience.

Give Directions. Whether it’s the signage at an amusement park or a corporate policy manual, users must “know where to go next.”

Eliminate Lost. This is when information does not perform it is suppose to. In the amusement park and the corporate policy manual. And in your seminar and your blog. Good info design eliminates “lostness.”

Life or Death. One purpose of information our safety. I learned this back in the mid 50’s when I was creating training aids for the US Army at Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Benning.

We were sending young soldiers into battle, so the format of the information had life or death implications.

Consider also, a scuba diving manual, the instructions (plus the seat pocket card) of a flight attendant or signage at the rim of the Grand Canyon (where you can easily fall 400 feet).

Solve Problems. It’s a huge issue in business and in life. One person has done more to address communications as a problem solving tool than anyone I know. That is Dan Roam in his book,The Back of the Napkin (Expanded Edition): Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures. Get it and live by it!

Speed and Man Hours and Money. Time is money, so they say. And having the right information at the right time can make any company money. Need I say more?

Work and Results. The key element of information design is, , ,does it work? It’s all about results. Simply put, if it doesn’t work it’s not good design.

Save Money!

Best Experience. To many in business the key to success is that your customers have the best experience with your product or service as possible. It may be reading your book, watching your Powerpoint show, or simply enjoying your blog and ezine. User experience is the bottom line.

OK, how do you do it? That will come in Part Three.

Wayne