Event Title: From information gatekeepers to informational designers: Communicating and designing information to enhance the learner’s experience.

Description: Presenting information to patrons visually is one of the many things we do in libraries, whether it be for marketing a library service or event, teaching a class, or a giving a presentation at a faculty meeting. Many of us have no previous training in the principles of visual and graphic design, so for this year’s OCULA fall event, we are focusing on developing those skills. Our keynote speakers, Devon Mordell, an instructional designer from McMaster University, and Tara Ogaick, an industrial designer from Carleton University will lead participants through both demonstrations and applications of visual design best practices and principles. We will also be joined by a professional graphic designer and member of the Association of Registered Graphic Designers who will provide feedback to participants during our afternoon activities.

As our day unfolds, you will learn about, and be able to apply, practical design strategies for effective web and print communication. You will also be introduced to informational and instructional design practices within a teaching and learning context. If you’ve ever been asked to create a PowerPoint presentation, design a poster, logo, infographic or website, or even assist in the design of an online course, then this event is for you!

Presenters Bios

Tara Ogaick is a designer who focuses on the interplay between communication styles and research alongside visual design and illustration. She has an MA in English Literature and an MDes in Industrial Design from Carleton University. She has worked closely with Carleton to provide visual communication products for both web and print. As a freelance artist, she has also created comics and illustrations, logos and design documents, and provided illustrations and art for independent game developers.

An intellectual adventuress and unapologetic polymath, Devon Mordell brings a background in visual arts, web design and education to her role as an instructional designer at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Most recently, she was involved in the instructional design of McMaster’s first massive open online course (MOOC) on Coursera, Experimentation for Improvement. When she’s not thinking about how to design better learning experiences, she frequents Hamilton’s antique scene in search of weird and wonderful sci-tech artifacts.

Where: Seneca College (Room S1209) at the York University, Keele Campus, 70 The Pond Road, Toronto, ON M3J 3M6, Canada

When: October 20, 2014
8:30 am – 4:00 pm
A light breakfast, lunch and afternoon refreshments will be provided.

Registration Fees:
OLA Members- $120
Non-Members- $150
Students- $70
Job-Seekers- $70

Registration deadline: October 6