Communication design, interaction design, industrial design, information architecture

“Design predicts the future when it anticipates experience…”
—Augusto Morello (2000)

“Design is the conception and planning of the artificial, that broad domain of human made products which includes: material objects, visual and verbal communications, organised activities and services, and complex systems and environments for living, working, playing and learning.”
—Victor Margolin & Richard Buchanan (1995)

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Many definitions of design exist, revealing different strengths and weaknesses. Generally speaking, design is about solving problems or creating solutions in an ill-defined problem space.

Here we focus on practice-based definitions as many experience design practitioners come from diverse practices and disciplines.

Communication design

Communication design refers to the design of strategies, identities, media and visual products dedicated to enhancing understanding between people, organisations and corporations. It is often also referred to as graphic design.

Communication or graphic designers are involved with the design of communication strategies, visual systems, corporate identity, the design of literature or publications, packaging, signage and wayfinding systems, exhibits and displays, interactive media and web sites, broadcast design or other specialised media.

Information architecture

Information architecture gives an organisational structure and context to content. It determines the hierarchies and navigation of information. Together with information design it makes complex data and information clear and understandable.

Interaction design

Interaction design enhances and extends the way people work, communicate and interact in making products, services or applications easy to use, enjoyable and efficient.

It focuses on the relationships between people and their interactive devises (computers to mobile phones to appliances) and environments. as well as between people as supported by social software applications.

Interaction design focuses on the wow-show-flow of user experiences and on positioning/evaluating/reflecting on the socio-economic and cultural impact of new technologies.

Links:
- Interaction-Ivrea definition
- Wikipedia definition
- Nathan Shedroff definition

Industrial design

Industrial design is the professional service of creating and developing concepts and specifications that optimise the function, value and appearance of products and systems for the mutual benefit of both user and manufacturer.(from the ISDA definition of design)

Industrial design is not limited to products, but also refers to the development of platforms and systems, design concepts and processes, solutions and specifications.

Links:
- ISDA definition of design
- ICSID definition of design
- Wikipedia definition of industrial design

Service design


It has only recently been recognised that services as much as products have to be designed.

The process is much the same - the designer has to find out what it is the customer wants and needs and then provide it.

A well-designed service can provide a great competitive advantage for a business, even if that business isn’t a service provider. For example, a customer service department that reacts swiftly and efficiently to complaints has a much better chance of keeping customers.

A service usually includes a service ecology that allows the service to operate successfully.

Links:
- Nathan Shedroff definition of service design
- Service design wiki

Experience and sensory design

Both experience and sensory design recognise that design is about more than the end-product. Experience design is an extension of customer-focused design. Instead of asking what the customer wants at the start of the process, the designer asks what kind of experience they should have.

Links:
- Design Council definition
- Wikipedia definition