Information Design in Presentation, Interpretation and Dissemination of Natural and Cultural Heritage

Abstract

It has been established that an attractive heritage presentation is crucial for successful media coverage of natural and cultural heritage. New infographic technologies and audiovisual languages can accomplish this by communicating complex processes in simple, understandable information, thus providing a high-quality cultural experience to visitors. This study highlights the importance of information design in interpretation, presentation and dissemination of heritage, and in prompting visitors to direct their attention more closely to singularities and distinct heritage aspects of a place. Through a theoretical reflection and presentation of several examples, we strengthen guidelines that we think are determinant for way heritage is perceived and informed to public, further improving systems and processes used for integrating infographics into communication materials. We argue that an attractive and functional heritage presentation is crucial for its successful media coverage and we highlight the importance of infographics and graphic identity in heritage information and in preserving its memory.