Transit maps, showing public transport in urban areas, are important components of navigating a complex city network of buses, trains, trams, etc. Often, such maps are schematized, in other words, they are configured as abstract diagrams with topographical distortion, only showing individual routes and their intersections with few, if any, surface features (such as the famous London Underground map originated by Henry Beck in 1933). The intention is that these will be easier to use for journey planning than detailed topographical maps, but their creation and use is not trivial psychologically, and history is littered with numerous schematic maps that have failed for design or political reasons. This, coupled with their ubiquity, makes them a legitimate target for further study.
The aim of this module is to take a multidisciplinary approach to understanding transit maps, in particular, schematic maps, looking at the history and context in which they developed, the design techniques used, the psychological principles that underpin their usability, and the various methods that can be used to assess their effectiveness, both objective and subjective. As a result of taking this module, students will gain an understanding of how such maps assist the user, and how they should be designed and evaluated. The emphasis throughout will be on the concept of evidence-based design, with the intention that students will acquire transferable skills relevant to graphic design, information design, and human factors research, along with an awareness of how psychological concepts can inform design and usability issues.
This is also intended to be a practical hands-on module, with students encouraged to engage with the subject matter and develop their own critical skills. Students will also create and evaluate designs for assessment purposes and, therefore, will be taught basic experimental and graphic design techniques.
The aim of this module is to take a multidisciplinary approach to understanding transit maps, in particular, schematic maps, looking at the history and context in which they developed, the design techniques used, the psychological principles that underpin their usability, and the various methods that can be used to assess their effectiveness, both objective and subjective. As a result of taking this module, students will gain an understanding of how such maps assist the user, and how they should be designed and evaluated. The emphasis throughout will be on the concept of evidence-based design, with the intention that students will acquire transferable skills relevant to graphic design, information design, and human factors research, along with an awareness of how psychological concepts can inform design and usability issues.
This is also intended to be a practical hands-on module, with students encouraged to engage with the subject matter and develop their own critical skills. Students will also create and evaluate designs for assessment purposes and, therefore, will be taught basic experimental and graphic design techniques.