This course explores infographic design as a visual journalism practice, where typography, data, maps, and illustration work together to communicate complexity clearly and responsibly.

Building on this approach, the course focuses on how designers can analyze complex datasets, both qualitative and quantitative, and transform fragmented information into meaningful visual stories. The methodology taught in the course reflects an editorial approach developed through years of professional experience in infographic design by teacher Manuel Bortoletti, combining analytical rigor with visual clarity. Students will learn to structure information through clear editorial layouts, use typography as an informational system, and integrate different visual languages such as data visualizations, cartography, and informational illustration into coherent and consistent infographic systems.

Structured around an editorial workflow, the course alternates between theory, demonstrations, and hands-on practice. Alongside design principles and methods, students will be introduced to commonly used tools and software for data visualization and map production, gaining familiarity with professional workflows used in editorial and journalistic contexts. This is an advanced, in person, studio based course, with a strong focus on experimentation, iteration, and feedback.

Throughout the course, students will work with real datasets, information, and sources, culminating in a final project: a visual journalism style infographic poster that brings together analysis, narrative, and design into a unified visual outcome.

Why it matters

As information becomes denser and more fragmented, the ability to structure, interpret, and visually explain data has become an essential skill across many fields, including design, journalism, science, and education.

Today, we are surrounded by data more than ever, yet we often lack the tools to fully understand it. Numbers, charts, and claims circulate constantly, making it harder to understand what is reliable and what is misleading. As a result, complexity often turns into confusion rather than insight.

In this context, designers and visual communicators play an important role in building meaning. Their work goes beyond aesthetics. It involves explaining information clearly and responsibly, working with reliable sources, and recognizing the human dimension behind every dataset. Data is not neutral or abstract. It is collected, shaped, and communicated by people.

This course offers methods to move beyond decoration and toward meaningful visual explanation. While grounded in infographic design, its approach is useful not only for designers, but for anyone who needs to communicate complex processes, data, or ideas through visual languages. These skills are increasingly important across many professions.

What you’ll learn

In this course, you will learn how to:

• Analyze complex information and datasets, both qualitative and quantitative, and identify meaningful structures within them.
• Transform fragmented data into clear and meaningful visual stories using a visual journalism approach.
• Design structured infographic layouts using editorial grids and visual hierarchy.
• Use typography as an informational system to improve clarity, readability, and narrative flow.
• Work across different visual languages, integrating maps, charts, illustrations, and text into coherent and consistent infographic systems.
• Use visual strategies drawn from the best examples of visual journalism to explain complex ideas and develop a clear, method-driven design approach.
• Apply professional tools and workflows for data visualization (RawGraphs, Flourish), map production (QGIS), and informational illustration (Illustrator).
• Produce a final visual journalism–style infographic poster based on real data and sources.

Course Format

This is an advanced, in-person, studio-based course focused on hands-on learning and iterative work. Each session combines short lectures, visual references, live demonstrations, and extended studio time, following an editorial workflow.

Students are expected to actively participate in discussions, exercises, and critiques, working both individually and collaboratively. Regular feedback and revision are an integral part of the course.

The course culminates in a final project consisting of a visual journalism style infographic poster. Students should expect to dedicate time outside of class to research, iteration, and refinement.

Who Is This For?

This course is designed for students, designers and visual communicators who want to deepen their ability to work with complex information.

It is suitable for:

• Graphic designers and illustrators
• Students
• Journalists and visual journalists
• Data-related professionals
• Scientists, researchers, and educators
• Architects and spatial thinkers interested in systems and mapping
   

Participants should have basic experience with typography, layout, and page-based design, and be comfortable working with tools such as Adobe Illustrator and InDesign. This course is not intended for complete beginners.

Required Materials:

• Laptop (for in-person participation)
• Sketching tools (paper, pencils, pens)
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe InDesign
• QGIS (optional but recommended)

This class meets each day June 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, and 25, from 10 am to 5 pm. On June 17th, Giorgia Lupi will be special guest in the evening from 6:30 pm-9:30 pm.