A guest blog posted on the Pivot Dublin website on 23 July 2013
When design matters
In the academic world of publishing design tends to rank well below content - not surprising when accuracy and clarity of argument are the main requirements to expand the knowledge base. In 1687 Isaac Newton described universal gravitation and the three laws of motion using complex mathematics and theoretical arguments. How his book looked (graphically and typographically) was not important - although some deciphering was needed: over 40 years later a book was published under the title Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophy Explain'd for the Use of the Ladies! But when we come to the matter of education and outreach perhaps design could play a much more prominent role than it is traditionally given. Visual communication (story telling in essence) is a powerful way to help people process and consider information. Knowledge is power, but the joy of learning is rare.
Subjects are presented as circumscribed fields of study in second level education in Ireland and few (if any) teachers operate across the full spectrum of the curriculum. Addressing this problem in 2012 the Institute of Physics in Ireland and the RDS created a timeline of information in a cross-curricular setting - the ‘Physics in Time’ poster. A beautiful info-graphic the poster charts significant physics discoveries since the 16th Century and places them in the context of major milestones from the worlds of exploration, art, history, politics, sport and science. The poster was sent to every school in Ireland - primary and secondary, North and South – you may have seen it in a school near you. Geography, english and art teachers are just as interested in the poster as science, mathematics and history teachers - as are philosophers and sports enthusiasts – the unifying element is the striking design and fascinating diverse content.
Since leaving the Institute of Physics last September I have been researching and editing a book as a follow on resource (to the poster) called The Visual Time Traveller. It covers 500 years of history, art and science in 100 unique designs or, more simply, a thousand facts woven into a hundred illustrations (a few samples pictured above). A key aspect of this wide-ranging project has been to provide a platform for innovative design to drive the narrative of historic facts. Furthermore research and images are posted daily on a Facebook page providing a series of vignettes into the past and an alternative way to access history: a pertinent theme at a time when the Junior Certificate curriculum is changing radically. The Visual Time Traveller will be launched this autumn with an exhibition of some of the illustrations in poster size - a visual and intellectual feast.
Alison Hackett, first posted on 23 July 2013
When design matters
In the academic world of publishing design tends to rank well below content - not surprising when accuracy and clarity of argument are the main requirements to expand the knowledge base. In 1687 Isaac Newton described universal gravitation and the three laws of motion using complex mathematics and theoretical arguments. How his book looked (graphically and typographically) was not important - although some deciphering was needed: over 40 years later a book was published under the title Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophy Explain'd for the Use of the Ladies! But when we come to the matter of education and outreach perhaps design could play a much more prominent role than it is traditionally given. Visual communication (story telling in essence) is a powerful way to help people process and consider information. Knowledge is power, but the joy of learning is rare.
Subjects are presented as circumscribed fields of study in second level education in Ireland and few (if any) teachers operate across the full spectrum of the curriculum. Addressing this problem in 2012 the Institute of Physics in Ireland and the RDS created a timeline of information in a cross-curricular setting - the ‘Physics in Time’ poster. A beautiful info-graphic the poster charts significant physics discoveries since the 16th Century and places them in the context of major milestones from the worlds of exploration, art, history, politics, sport and science. The poster was sent to every school in Ireland - primary and secondary, North and South – you may have seen it in a school near you. Geography, english and art teachers are just as interested in the poster as science, mathematics and history teachers - as are philosophers and sports enthusiasts – the unifying element is the striking design and fascinating diverse content.
Since leaving the Institute of Physics last September I have been researching and editing a book as a follow on resource (to the poster) called The Visual Time Traveller. It covers 500 years of history, art and science in 100 unique designs or, more simply, a thousand facts woven into a hundred illustrations (a few samples pictured above). A key aspect of this wide-ranging project has been to provide a platform for innovative design to drive the narrative of historic facts. Furthermore research and images are posted daily on a Facebook page providing a series of vignettes into the past and an alternative way to access history: a pertinent theme at a time when the Junior Certificate curriculum is changing radically. The Visual Time Traveller will be launched this autumn with an exhibition of some of the illustrations in poster size - a visual and intellectual feast.
Alison Hackett, first posted on 23 July 2013