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Keywords Information design, information decoration, design for debate, persuasive design, design research, multi-media, multi-disciplinary

I’m a multi-disciplinary information designer. The way I approach information design can be referred to as ‘journalism through design’. I have an analytical attitude but value an intuitive approach. So I’m mainly interested in the qualitative side of design but with a high sense of reality. Graphics, animation, and interactivity are the key factors that shape my designs. I distinguish four core values in design: holistic approach, empathy with people, dedication to design and feasibility in technology.

I highly value a holistic approach in the design process. Design creates context or is part of it. It is ambiguous, so it can never be seen apart from context. A design project is therefore always multi-disciplinary. This involves an open academic attitude combined with practical communicative skills. I use design to communicate my knowledge about complex subjects and empower people to deal with it. This can vary from socio-cultural trends to management processes, but also confusing technology or social phenomena.

I want to make a valuable or meaningful impact on people’s lives. So having empathy with people is important to me because I don’t design for myself. A design should address people’s norms and values by questioning or enhancing them. In some cases design should provide critical resistance, in other cases it is instrumental in enhancing people’s values.

I’m generally interested in the bigger picture, but my dedication to design is high. Design has to breathe sophistication and benefits most from combining a broad perspective with perfect detail. Showing people the bigger picture makes no sense if the details are missing, but only details don’t make a story. As a professional designer I want to control every single detail as well as the overall story.

I use feasible technology to increase the effectiveness of making complex subjects manageable. It enables interaction which can result in increased involvement with a design. Therefore creating convincing prototypes during the design process is important to communicate the intended experience to myself and other people. Feasible technology makes a design real.