In 2014, eikon, Fribourg’s Vocational School of Applied Arts, did away with its multimedia design major, replacing it with a training program in the fast-growing discipline of interactive media design (IMD). “It’s about translating the continual flow of often complex information into a visual, and therefore easier-to-understand, language. It isn't about oversimplifying this information but rather adding value to it. Through the fusion of image, text and typography, sometimes in a dynamic and interactive way, information design is highly effective at uncovering fluxes, trends and priorities”, explains Nicolas Stevan, Director of eikon. This ability to visually structure data is increasingly sought after in fields as diverse as marketing, media, research and education. “Augmented reality, which is essentially the integration of information in the form of 2D or 3D elements into a real image, is another up-and-coming market.” eikon and the Swiss Integrative Center for Human Health (SICHH) have joined forces to work on several projects involving information design. “These programs are still confidential but what I can say is that they deal with patient rehabilitation and recovery as well as the design of highly specialized training courses for health professionals”, adds Nicolas Stevan. “New technologies mean that IMD is a profession which is evolving on an almost constant basis. It is our job to make sure that the content of our training programs takes account of these changes.”

→ www.eikon.ch