An information design is basically a blueprint or design for the production of an idea, product or procedure or the end result of that design, product or procedure. The word information design generally refers to the process of coming up with a suitable information plan or system, which provides information needed by users and/or decision makers to accomplish an intended purpose. The word designer also has a similar meaning. It means “to furnish” or “to prepare.”
Info design can include any or all of the following: planning, organizing, analyzing, implementing, controlling, and evaluating. The term “information” in this context typically refers to data, knowledge, information systems, software, apparatus, and/or information technology. The word designer is used to describe someone who carries out the various stages of these activities.
Info design projects usually begin with a “designing” phase, which is concerned primarily with conceptualizing and generating ideas for a given subject or domain. An example of such a starting point is the production of business plans and strategy models. The first step in designing an information system involves analyzing the needs of the users, and coming up with a suitable business plan or strategy. This involves determining what kind of things the business must deal with, how those things should be organized, how those needs should be fulfilled, and what technological changes will have to be made to make the systems more efficient or effective.
Once a detailed description of the business needs has been formulated, the next step in the info design process involves gathering enough data and information to construct a solid structure or foundation for the system. The basic components that constitute such a foundation are data, information systems, and technological modifications to enhance the systems. Information science is involved in this part of the process as well, by developing techniques for gathering data, organizing it, analyzing it, communicating it, and finally synthesizing it into a useful information product. The goal of any information design project is to produce a working information system. The information product may be a report, documentation, set of charts, or any other sort of information product. Information products require extensive research and analysis to come up with something that can solve real-life problems, so even though information design projects do not normally need to be completed in one or two years, they do take a great length of time and are very challenging.
The output of any info design process is usually a work file that describes how an information system actually works. This file then goes through a series of review and editing processes to improve the accuracy and utility of the product, and is generally prepared for implementation as an instruction set or protocol. This final info design product is known as the user guide, which is usually an easy-to-read, comprehensive manual that explains every topic in detail. User guides are especially important because users usually do not know much about the subject, so they need to be highly informative and easy to understand.
Info design projects are extremely rewarding, especially for those who have a strong aptitude for information technology. They allow designers to show off their technical skills and use the finished product to earn good money. Many large companies hire a small team of designers and programmers to complete an info design project, and smaller companies usually hire freelancers or independent contractors to do the same. However, information technology companies tend to be more picky about whom they hire, so it’s often better to have a designer job contract than to attempt to complete a design project without one.