GordonGR05

Information Design ~ Day 6 I find myself hovering between the two extremes of design idiocracy and fine art self infatuation.

Our class discussion and group breakout session revolved around the cerebral dissection of several IKEA product assembly/installation manuals. Each group, consisting of 4-5 intelligent, college level individuals was given the task of discerning the direction renderings and thought process from the manufacturer. The simple, almost hieroglyphic illustrations, for the most part conveyed the intended messages. I would have to say that for the Swedish company, that was a victory in “universal” imagery – in and of itself. Unfortunately for IKEA, the methodology and informational design practices are not consistently practiced across its own product lines. The inconsistencies create confusion and even worse, dissatisfied customers. A subculture of IKEA haters has actually taken root on the web. IKEA may have “dumbed” themselves right down the toilet. Hope they have an instruction manual for that!

In today’s reading, Links and Causal Arrows: Ambiguity in Action, I have to say I find our author, Tufte incredibly overbearing. He uses the chart designed by Alfred Barr, Cubism and Abstract Art, as the end all example of all that is right in fine art and design. He blathers on and on about the ingenious use of arrows and the paragraphs of insight that they hold. I almost thought this guy was Barr’s rep for as much kissing up as was going on. In the midst of all his overstated fluff, I did see an incredible example of graphic design. Now granted, Barr had an inside track on landing the gig - seeing as how he was the Director of the Museum…good thing there was no Sarbanes-Oxley at the time! Barr’s chart, as Tufte so verbosely stated “served as a beautiful cover for the catalog, a table of contents for the show, an organizing history of the art displayed in the museum and a symbol of the entire enterprise”. Not bad for a cocktail napkin full of chicken scratch and arrowisms! And another thing, how ironic is it that the Barr chart has no bars!!! In all seriousness, Tufte needs to get his gush factor reset. I believe there is still plenty more to learn from this learned designer and his views on the importance of great information design. Let the next chapter begin…