This text-only record is part of the interactive AIGA Design Archives where you can view more details, zoom into images and explore other works in the definitive online resource on American design.
 |
Design Category
Information design, 2000
Design firm
R/GA (New York, New York)
Collection
(2001) AIGA 365: 22
|
R/GA’s challenge was to create an online version of Richard Saul Wurman’s book, Understanding USA. The goal was to develop a site that offers a free downloadable version of the book and was in keeping with the book’s philosophy: “Public Information should be made public.” The experience begins with a quick Flash splash that offers users a symbolic presentation of the book’s premise and introduces them to the navigation’s graphical and color elements. It dissolves quickly into the home page, with the intuitive navigation prominently displayed to the right. The lower-level pages contain a “zoom” feature encouraging visitors to view detailed data. The color-coded, Flash navigation on the home page is mimicked by JavaScript at the top of each ensuing page. Additionally, an interactive site map graphically represents the various sections of the book. Users can rate each page using a simple tool placed globally in the bottom-right corner.