EDPros need to know how to present complex information Saturday, November 02, 2002 Every once in a while, I come a cross an ED report that does an excellent job presenting information. This is not a trivial challenge. Most ED information is complex, and people do not have time to read. EDPros need to explore different approaches to presenting complex information. A good rule of thumb: any report that people cannot read in an evening after dinner will not be read. If you are interested in this issue, take some time to review a recent report on the Baltimore regional economy. In a few short pages, the authors outline a compelling picture of the region. Strong graphics make the report easily accessible. Download a copy. EDPros interested in this topic can learn more. If you are interested in good web design principles, look at the Web Style Guide. If you want to know how to present information cleanly, read the books by Gene Zelanzny, former Director of Visual Communications at McKinsey. Go. If you are really into exploring the design prionciples of complex information, Edward Tufte is the leader in this field, and you can get his books from his web site. posted by Ed Morrison |		This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. links Some Background on EDPro Weblog The purpose of this weblog is to help economic development professionals -- EDPros -- keep up with the changes sweeping our profession. Strap on your goggles. It's a whole new game. There are no experts any more. The only place to learn about economic development is from other EDPros who are doing it. One other point: the prevaling approach (paradigm, if you like) in economic development is shifting from competition to collaboration. There are a lot of reaasons underlying this shift, but here's the important insight: You, your community, and your region will do better by collaborating and sharing information. So, spread the word...Share the knowledge. Tell a friend about EDPro Weblog. If you are using a news reader, here is the link to syndicate this site: Here's the link if you are a bloglines subscriber: Speaking and workshops on Open Source Economic Development As the idea of Open Source Economic Development starts spreading, more people are asking about it. Visit the I-Open web site to learn more. My colleagues and I are happy to explain the basic concepts in a talk or a workshop. E-mail Susan Alshuler if you'd like to learn more about workshops and speaking. Background on Ed Morrison Download some background information on me here.

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