Dynamic Diagrams
Encyclopedia
Dynamic Diagrams is an information design
consultancy based in Providence, Rhode Island
, USA. Its services include information architecture
and design for web sites and applications, as well as diagramming complex processes, systems, and data to help clients explain and sell their ideas. The company provides visual design capabilities supported by research and analysis to understand user and business needs.
Dynamic Diagrams was founded in 1990 by Paul Kahn and Krzysztof Lenk, who first worked together to design the hypertext
system Intermedia (hypertext)
at Brown University
’s Institute for Research in Information and Scholarship
(IRIS). The company retains strong ties to Brown and the Rhode Island School of Design
(RISD), where Krzysztof Lenk is a member of the graphic design
faculty. Dynamic Diagrams has been affiliated with Cadmus Communications Corporation, Inc. and Ingenta
, but has operated as an independent studio under the leadership of Tim Roy since 2002.
Dynamic Diagrams is known for using isometric projection
s or Z-diagrams to map web sites (Dodge, 1999; Kahn & Lenk, 2001; Kahn, Lenk, & Kaczmarek, 2001), for developing the software program MAPA (Durand & Kahn, 1998), and for publishing the Information Design Watch blog. The company's work appears in several books on information architecture and information design (see Further Reading).
A survey of methods for mapping cyberspace, including examples from Dynamic Diagrams.
Dynamic Diagrams' work appears in Business and Trade.
Dynamic Diagrams' work appears in this book.
Information design
Information design is the skill and practice of preparing information so people can use it with efficiency and effectiveness. Where the data is complex or unstructured, a visual representation can express its meaning more clearly to the viewer....
consultancy based in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, USA. Its services include information architecture
Information Architecture
Information architecture is the art of expressing a model or concept of information used in activities that require explicit details of complex systems. Among these activities are library systems, Content Management Systems, web development, user interactions, database development, programming,...
and design for web sites and applications, as well as diagramming complex processes, systems, and data to help clients explain and sell their ideas. The company provides visual design capabilities supported by research and analysis to understand user and business needs.
Dynamic Diagrams was founded in 1990 by Paul Kahn and Krzysztof Lenk, who first worked together to design the hypertext
Hypertext
Hypertext is text displayed on a computer or other electronic device with references to other text that the reader can immediately access, usually by a mouse click or keypress sequence. Apart from running text, hypertext may contain tables, images and other presentational devices. Hypertext is the...
system Intermedia (hypertext)
Intermedia (hypertext)
Intermedia was the third notable hypertext project to emerge from Brown University, after HES and FRESS . Intermedia was started in 1985 by Norman Meyrowitz, who had been associated with earlier hypertext research at Brown...
at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
’s Institute for Research in Information and Scholarship
Institute for Research in Information and Scholarship
The Institute for Research in Information and Scholarship was founded at Brown University by Andries van Dam, William S. Shipp, and Norman Meyrowitz in 1983 and closed in 1991...
(IRIS). The company retains strong ties to Brown and the Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
(RISD), where Krzysztof Lenk is a member of the graphic design
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
faculty. Dynamic Diagrams has been affiliated with Cadmus Communications Corporation, Inc. and Ingenta
Ingenta
Founded in 1998, Ingenta provided technology and associated services to the publishing and information industries. Its software enables scholarly, financial and business publishers to make content available to online institutional and individual end users, under a variety of business models.In...
, but has operated as an independent studio under the leadership of Tim Roy since 2002.
Dynamic Diagrams is known for using isometric projection
Isometric projection
Isometric projection is a method for visually representing three-dimensional objects in two dimensions in technical and engineering drawings...
s or Z-diagrams to map web sites (Dodge, 1999; Kahn & Lenk, 2001; Kahn, Lenk, & Kaczmarek, 2001), for developing the software program MAPA (Durand & Kahn, 1998), and for publishing the Information Design Watch blog. The company's work appears in several books on information architecture and information design (see Further Reading).
See also
- Information architectureInformation ArchitectureInformation architecture is the art of expressing a model or concept of information used in activities that require explicit details of complex systems. Among these activities are library systems, Content Management Systems, web development, user interactions, database development, programming,...
- Information designInformation designInformation design is the skill and practice of preparing information so people can use it with efficiency and effectiveness. Where the data is complex or unstructured, a visual representation can express its meaning more clearly to the viewer....
- Visual design
- Visualization (graphic)Visualization (graphic)Visualization is any technique for creating images, diagrams, or animations to communicate a message. Visualization through visual imagery has been an effective way to communicate both abstract and concrete ideas since the dawn of man...
Further reading
The book provides an overview of the Dynamic Diagrams process of visualizing and planning complex web site structure, notably use of the isometric or “Z-diagram” approach to creating site planning maps.A survey of methods for mapping cyberspace, including examples from Dynamic Diagrams.
Dynamic Diagrams' work appears in Business and Trade.
Dynamic Diagrams' work appears in this book.