Making posters to understand statistics: towards a didactical approach in communication design

Abstract

The paper describes a didactical approach aimed at introducing statistics to communication design students at the master level. The approach is aimed at helping them in developing a critical attitude towards data manipulation and information visualization, acknowledging a lack of education on such areas despite their growing relevance in the communication design field. In previous experiences, we observed how theoretical lessons of statistics were inefficient because perceived as distant from the communication design practice. We therefore adopted a “thinking-through-doing” approach: instead of asking students to study statistical methods, we asked them to design a poster explaining them. In the paper we present the didactical experience discussing the outcomes. The approach brought students to better understand statistical methods and the implications of the decision taken in setting the analysis. In conclusion, we argue that it succeeds in making students more aware of the intersections between design and statistics.