Information Design Summer School

“The summer school was a full-immersion experience that introduced me to new concepts and ideas, inspirational tutors and amazing fellow students that I’ll keep in touch with for years to come.”

Run by the Simplification centre since 2013, the Information Design Summer School is the best place to get a fast introduction to the concepts, principles and challenges of information design.

The 2024 summer school will be online. Starting on 3 September, there will be twice-weekly 3-hour sessions finishing on 26 September. Each session includes short talks and discussions, with homework between times (video lectures, and practical exercises). Expect around 40 hours of lectures, discussions and practical work. The cost is €465 / £400 / $510). 

Tutors are former IIID presidents Rob Waller and Clive Richards, together with long time IIId Board member Karel van der Waarde.

The summer school is organised in partnership with the International Institute for Information Design (IIID).

For more information about the summer school and registration please visit the Simplification centre website.


The early IIID Summer Academies

The idea for the IIID Information Design Summer Academy was originally conceived as an initiative within IIID‘s Information Design University project (IDU), which aimed to provide a semi virtual university based on the competence of some of the most renowned educational institutions, research laboratories and design consultancies.

Travelling the City #2

As a continuation of the first event this summer school examined the accessibility of information in wayfinding and
transportation, to make travelling the city a pleasant experience for older tourists in Salzburg. A prime tourist hotspot, it seemed fitting that the location was the Tourism School Salzburg.

Course director was Veronika Egger, Faculty and visitng experts were: Elizabeth Pastor, and Gerry K. Van atter, NY, USA; Prof. Keith Bright, UK; Prof. Paul Mijksenaar, The Netherlands.

Travelling the City #1

The very first IIID Summer Academy was realized in cooperation with the School of Design at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. The summer academy was directed by Prof. Robert O. Swinehart (Carnegie Mellon University), former President of IIID.

Other faculty / visiting experts were: Andreas Schneider, Gifu, Japan; Petra Knyrim and Stefan Nowak, Düsseldorf, Germany; Angela Winkler and Martin Foessleitner, Vienna, Austria; Erik Spiekerman, Berlin/San Francisco.