Good Design or Design For Good?

We have discussed the many aspects of graphic design; it is artistic, business, collaboration, etc. Graphic design is also communication of ideas and experiences. You can communicate a new brand of detergent, or maybe communicate when a new DVD comes out. You could also communicate global statistics to help people better understand the human condition in other countries. Below is a link to a TED talk given by Hans Rosling. He discusses human mortality rates in other countries, and uses UN statistics to enlighten people on our misconceptions of third world and developing countries. Now where does a graphic designers come in? Well scientist collect data and analyze it, but not always does it become widespread because it is difficult to read, confusing, and/or ridiculously gaudy. Designers are trained solve these problems, to organize bits of information and make them attractive to a general public. If scientists and designers could get work together we would have a wealth of information that was easily accessible and better to comprehend. Here's Gapminder, (Hans Rosling's website) that have engaging graphs that paint a better picture of important global trends. http://www.gapminder.org/

http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_shows_the_best_stats_you_ve_ever_seen.html