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Article published In:
Information Design Journal
Vol. 25:3 (2019) ► pp.265–277

Learning from Vernon’s Isotype test

A design history footnote

This paper goes back to the 1970s, the decade when IDJ was born, to recall a collaboration with Marie Neurath of the Isotype Institute. The project challenged a widely published research project on Isotype charts by psychologist Magdalen Vernon, and the original sketches and design drafts are used to make observations about Isotype, design expertise and design research.

Keywords: research methods, Isotype
Article outline
  • 1.The Vernon ‘Isotype’ chart
  • 2.Background to our intervention
  • 3.Marie Neurath’s transformation
  • 4.Reflections on transformation skills and processes
    • 4.1Persistence of the original arrangement of data
    • 4.2Active white space, and its role in raising questions
    • 4.3Column order and topic
    • 4.4The key role of the title
    • 4.5Using an available repertoire of solutions
    • 4.6The importance of skillful execution and visual judgement
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 22 October 2020
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/idj.25.3.04wal
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