Rob Waller's information design notes

Hi! We're here for your furniture.

Rob Waller — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 21:42:00 +0000

We've been helping a bank rewrite their debt collection letters. Like many modern brands, this bank has a tone of voice that's conversational and everyday. Much more so, actually, than most brands - in fact if we were to sincerely apply their brand tone of voice to the debt collection letters, we'd say 'cough up or we'll send the boys round'.

This project had a different approach from previous projects of this kind. Often, marketing departments like to keep the letters friendly at first and turn up the volume later, if the debt is still unpaid. But this can put people in danger of drifting into worse difficulties. Instead, if they are jolted into taking early action, they won't leave it until the debt is out of hand. That's the idea, anyway...

Completeness vs clarity

Rob Waller — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 16:57:00 +0000

We're working for a government department which is frequently lobbied to include extra information in guidance they give the public about their eligibility for money. It seems that every time advisers are asked by a member of the public about a situation that isn't in the guidance, they insist that it be added. As a result, the guidance is now overlong, hugely complex, and virtually unread by the people it's intended for. So it's no longer usable by the people it's for, who end up asking for advice...

A few years ago I copied this cartoon from somewhere - possibly Private Eye. Makes the point very well, I think.

(apologies if reproducing it here breaks a copyright rule - if the owner asks, I'll take it off).

Nigel Holmes's wordless diagrams

Rob Waller — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 12:06:00 +0000

At some point when I wasn't looking, people starting wearing their scarves a different way. I always wound mine round my head, or perhaps tied a half hitch. But now people do it differently, and luckily I don't have to describe how because I've just found this diagram in Nigel Holmes's brilliant book of Wordless Diagrams. This one is entitled 'How to wear a scarf European-style'. It also contains masterpieces such as 'How to conduct an orchestra', 'How to wave like a royal', 'How to make sure your coq au vin does not come out rubbery' and many others.

Wordless Diagrams is published by Duckworth, in 2005, and the ISBN is 0 7156 3395 3. Here's a link so you can buy it from Amazon: Wordless Diagrams

Diagram reproduced with Nigel's permission.

Reading a room

Rob Waller — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 18:15:00 +0000

An architect came to our house, and kept using the word 'read' about architectural features – as in "when I came in this room I immediately read its height", or "there are too many beams – they prevent you reading the shape of the roof".

We need a similar way to talk about reading a page. Not reading what the words say, but the fact there are three equal columns, that it's divided into two sections, that a diagram relates to a panel with a caption on it.

Moore's law for razors

Rob Waller — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 22:20:00 +0000

I expect this one is much blogged, but I can't resist this diagram from The Economist on the occasion of Gillette launching a five-blade razor, the Fusion.

The story is at http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=5624861. Thanks to Mike Williams for pointing me to this.

A new excuse for not taking enough exercise

Rob Waller — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 21:55:00 +0000

Try this:

"Start by lying face down on the floor with your hands by your shoulders, the palm of your hands flat on the floor. Your feet should be about a foot (30cm) apart and when you push up to the top of the position you should keep your head in line with your body; it's easier to maintain this position by looking down. As you execute the push-up, pull your tummy button towards your back and squeeze your bottom muscles. Then lower down, about two inches (5cm) off the floor. This is the basic push-up. If, however, you are coming at this with no experience, you should do the push-up resting on your knees instead of your feet. Apply the same technique and keep your head in line with your back. To increase the difficulty of the exercise change the position of your hands. By moving your hands closer together, you'll feel the effort in the back of your arms as well as your chest. Or turn the palms of your hands on the floor so your fingers are facing each other; this will place greater emphasis on your chest muscles. Alternatively, if you really want to increase the intensity ask someone to apply a light pressure on your back. The added resistance will make the move harder and will develop the toning even quicker."

It's from a recent article in The Times by Gabby Logan (10.06.06).

A long time ago, spelling and punctuation were unstandardised. Now we're regarded as uneducated if we can't get it right. It would be nice to think that one day people will be writing the The Times about pieces like this one:

"Sir: I was dismayed to read the article on push-ups in yesterday's Times. As every schoolboy knows, procedural instructions should always be presented in numbered steps, with informative headings and a diagram."

Off we go then

Rob Waller — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 16:01:00 +0000

When I used to edit Information Design Journal, many years ago, we would only publish an issue when we had enough good stuff, and the time to put it all together. That's what I imagine this blog will be. I imagine it'll be much like our photo album - a roll of film for day one of our son's life, another roll for week one, then month one, then the next six months... now he's 15, it's a photo a year if he's lucky.