Designing with / for / through qualitative data.

Objective

Explore how information design can support the exploration, interpretation and communication of qualitative research data, turning complex research materials into meaningful and accessible visual representations.

Contents

This course introduces the principles of information design and explores how typography, colour, hierarchy, layout and visual encoding can be used to work with qualitative data. Through examples and case studies, participants explore different relationships between design and data — designing with, for and through data — from data visualization to participatory approaches and data-driven experiences. Participants are then guided through practical activities to translate their own qualitative research materials into visual structures and representations.

Methodology

The course follows a learn by doing methodology and research through design approach, combining design principles, case studies and hands-on experimentation. Participants work directly with their own research materials, identifying a core message and different perspectives before sketching possible visual structures on paper and developing them through digital design tools.

Expected results

Participants will understand how design choices shape the interpretation and communication of qualitative data, will be able to identify appropriate visual strategies for different research questions and audiences, and will acquire practical methods for translating complex qualitative materials into clear and meaningful visual representations.

Previous courses

• Sep 2026 @ Social Pattern Recognition Lab - University of Trento