Week 4 Submission- Readings Discussion

Christopher Burke presents an interesting design idea known as the Isotype: International System of TYpographic Picture Education.

The reading explains the idea of universal language and how that can be achieved with pictorial designs rather than typography. The universality of information was a key driving force in the Isotype’s creation as the socialist government in ‘Red’ Vienna, Austria, wished to increase the public’s understanding of taxes and governmental practices. Otto Neurath, the lead designer, “described the goal of Isotype as ‘to present so many charts and models that everybody gets sufficient material for visual argument’ (Neurath, 2010). “

This reading, like that of week 2 and 3’s convey’s how the politics, historical events and ideas of the time greatly influence design. This is seen with Red Vienna, a socialist government wishing to involve all citizens with the Isotype. This political view is challenged and changes however and the designers are exiled to the UK, Africa and the U.S., thus influencing the design with new ideas and attributes.

It must be noted that not all information can be displayed or presented simply through the graphs and displays of the Isotype. Neurath, “believed that it is a mistake to think that we can ever possess all possible information for enabling us to make the single, correct decision about anything;”

To this end the Isotype is an important exploration of information design. Its influences can be seen today in the graphs and pictorial displays of today such as in train station maps.