Information Design (IAT235) - Spring 2025Archived
Welcome to Information Design! We are excited to have you here. This page serves as a resource for understanding the course structure, and accessing the materials you need to succeed.
Final Projects
Explore the creative and innovative final projects from our Information Design students. Each project demonstrates the application of design principles, data visualization, and user-centered design thinking.
View Final ProjectsTeaching Team
Course Policies
Contacting us
There will be a Discord channel through which we can all stay connected, ask questions, and help each other.
In case you'd like to email us, please allow up to 2 business days for responses, though we will typically reply much sooner. We may be able to answer questions about software or code via email. Please arrange a meeting or attend office hours for complex software or code questions. Happy to respond to other questions, but some questions are better asked in person.
Conduct
Please treat our online interactions the same way you would in-person interactions. As a teaching team, we are dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone in this class, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion. Harassment of any form is not tolerated. Sexual language and imagery are not appropriate in this class.
If you have concerns with anyone's conduct, either in-person or online, email your instructor. If you do not feel comfortable reaching out to your instructor, please contact SIAT's advisors.
SFU's complete student conduct policy is available online.
Illness
If you are feeling ill, you should stay home and get better. Let your instructor or TA know that this is the case, and make sure to catch up with course materials to stay up-to-date.
Late assignments
Late penalties (10% a day for 2 days, 20% after). If you have issues and can't submit on time, please let us know in advance; we are happy to work to figure out a way to get you up to speed.
Use of AI for coding
For coding assignments: it is fine if you use AI (ChatGPT or others) to work through your course. But the aim is for you to learn. If you use AI, we ask that you submit your chat as part of your assignment. We will evaluate the prompt and how you dealt with AI responses to ensure that you take the most out of this class.
For presentations and writing assignments: Do not use AI for writing content. Do not copy and paste from AI directly. Feel free to use AI for ideation and help with writing, but the end result should be your output, not AI.
Grading
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Assignments | 20% |
| Reading Reflections | 10% |
| Individual Projects | 30% |
| Group Projects | 40% |
The course is part lecture and part lab. You will need access to a computer and install some coding tools. We will work with you to figure out coding assignments and teach you the basics in the labs.
There are several assignments that you will submit through Canvas. Some assignments require coding, some are design-based, and most (hopefully) are fun. You will receive information about each assignment as the course moves on.
There will be two individual and two group projects. Further details will be shared as we move on.
Acknowledgements
This course and the content are heavily inspired by Professor Andrew Hawryshkewich's (SIAT) version of this course.
Course Syllabus
- Set up GitHub and understand its importance.
- Learn the basics of HTML and CSS.
- Set up a personal website on GitHub Pages.
1 readings (show more)collapse
- Introduction to Project 1.
- Practice HTML.
- Publish content on your personal website.
1 readings (show more)collapse
- Practice CSS.
- Update content on your personal website.
1 readings (show more)collapse
- Balance and Hierarchy sketches.
- Introduction to Project 2 - Clarity.
2 readings (show more)collapse
2 readings (show more)collapse
- CSS Flex.
- Figma Responsive Prototype.
| Week | Date | Type | Topic | Lecture Topics | Lab Activities | Video | Slides | Readings & Prep | Assignment Out | Assignment Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W1 | Jan 6 | Lecture | Why design information? | Get to know each other, think about information design. |
| — | — | 1 readings (show more)collapse | - | - |
| W2 | Jan 13 | Lecture | The building blocks for web-based information | Intro to HTML, CSS. |
| — | — | 1 readings (show more)collapse | - | |
| W3 | Jan 20 | Lecture | The looks of web-based information | How to use CSS to style your content in an accessible way. |
| — | — | 1 readings (show more)collapse | - | |
| W4 | Jan 27 | Lecture | Why we need to structure information | Thinking about layout and structure to direct movement through content. |
| — | — | 2 readings (show more)collapse | ||
| W5 | Feb 3 | Lecture | Understanding context is important | The importance of research to help understand context in a design process. | Frames sketches. | — | — | 2 readings (show more)collapse | ||
| W6 | Feb 10 | Lecture | Prototype before you build | An introduction to interaction design and wireframing. | Getting started with Figma. | — | — | - | ||
| W7 | Feb 17 | Break | BREAK | - | - | — | — | - | - | - |
| W8 | Feb 24 | Lecture | The author and the user | How to think about and test with the people YOU are designing for. | Introduction to Project 3 - Prototypes. | — | — | - | ||
| W9 | Mar 3 | Lecture | Responding to different devices and contexts | Focusing on building responsive web layouts and an introduction to your final project. |
| — | — | - | - | - |
| W10 | Mar 10 | Lecture | Introduction to Design S | We will look at different existing design systems and the key concepts behind them, as well as learn how to create a design system in Figma. | - | — | — | - | ||
| W11 | Mar 17 | Lecture | Beyond information design | Think about moving forward from information design and into other areas of design. | Introduction to Project 4. | — | — | - | ||
| W12 | Mar 24 | Lecture | Final project critiques | Final project critiques and feedback sessions. | - | — | — | - | - | - |
| W13 | Mar 31 | Lecture | Getting more technical | Potential career panel. | - | — | — | - | - | - |
| W14 | Apr 7 | Lecture | Final project critiques | Final project critiques and feedback sessions. | - | — | — | - | - |