In this new episode of Design Emergency, our cofounders, Paola Antonelli and Alice Rawsthorn, explore the rapidly expanding field of information design at a time when it is an increasingly powerful force in our lives. They do so by identifying some of their favourite examples of information design: past, present and future.
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The emergence of data visualization has transformed information design in recent years. Yet information design continues to come in many different forms: from statistical diagrams, maps and signage systems, to scientific visualization, animated narratives and, even, gestures.
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Among the examples chosen by Alice and Paola are: the pie charts with which the 19th century health reformer, Florence Nightingale, convinced the British government to fund the design and construction of new clinics and hospitals; and the compelling visual and statistical analyses of different aspects of African-American life in the early 20th century by the sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois.
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They also discuss Harry Beck's famous 1933 diagrammatic map of the London Underground; New Zealand’s inspiring Covid-19 public information campaign; and the pioneering data visualisations produced by the researchers and artists Kate Crawford and Vladan Joler to trace technology’s impact on our lives in the last 500 years and the social, political, economic and ecological implications of artificial intelligence.
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We hope you’ll enjoy this episode.
You can find images of the projects Alice and Paola discuss on our Instagram @design.emergency.
Please join us for future episodes of Design Emergency when we will hear from inspiring global design leaders who are in the forefront of forging positive change.
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Design Emergency is supported by a grant from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts.
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Recording and editing by Spiritland Creative.
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