Seminars by Saul Carliner: The Information Design Certificate (Designing Content)

the studio of
Saul Carliner
content development
for the workplace

The Information Design Certificate (Designing Content)

Length: 2 days.

Note: This course can be adjusted for a webcast format.

About this Certificate Program: Introduces participants to the principles, processes, and practices of information design, a methodology for ensuring that the right users receive the right information at the right time and shows you how to prepare a blueprint for a communication product.

Following an overview of key design principles, you'll explore the information design process, a 5-phase approach to designing technical communication products. You'll receive practical instructions for conducting each phase, as well as criteria and worksheets for making fundamental design decisions.

You’ll also learn why the blueprint helps you make more thorough project estimates than possible with other approaches and can guide you or another information developer for preparing a finished communication product.

Important note: This certificate program does not address basic technical writing and page layout skills. That content is covered in the Basics of Developing Workplace Content certificate.

At the end of this program, students are eligible for a certificate of completion.

Who Should Attend: Technical communicators, web developers, and others who develop workplace content

and

who have developed at least 3 communication products.

What You Will Learn

Main Objective: Develop a blueprint for one or more related technical communication products.

Supporting Objectives: To achieve the main objective, you should be able to:

Match key design approaches with their definitions
Explain the role of a process in effectively achieving design goals
Set requirements for a project

Name the four key issues to consider when analyzing the needs
Write observable, measurable objectives
Develop a four-part evaluation

Design a communication product

Choose the most appropriate type of product (such as help, wizard, or user's guide)
Choose an appropriate communications medium
Structure the information
Prepare fashion-forward page and screen designs
Set editorial and production guidelines

Appropriately involve clients and users in the design process

Agenda

Day One

What Is Information Design?
The Information Design Process

About the Process
Preparing Requirements

Analyzing the Needs (business need, use cases, character sketches of users, task analysis, constraints)

Preparing the Objectives
Preparing the Initial Evaluation Plan (for user satisfaction, user performance, and business performance)

Day Two

Preparing the Blueprint

Choosing a Type of Communication Product (types available, users' expectations)
Choosing a Communications Medium
Structuring the Content
Preparing a Prototype Section
Preparing Storyboards of Other Sections
Setting Editorial Guidelines Setting Technical Guidelines Preparing for Marketing and Maintenance of the Communication Product
Presenting the Blueprint to Sponsors

Exercise: Designing an Information Product
Wrap-up

To schedule a seminar or request more information: Please contact me.