IN FIELDS INCLUDING:
- UX/UIClient service and customer relationship management
- Instructional design
- Design, marketing, communications, advertising
- Information technology
- Media and public relations
- Business Intelligence
- Project management
- Research
Career Outlook
The dynamic field of information design & strategy has grown rapidly in recent years. Companies are realizing that their digital presence is more than just creating an appealing or eye catching website. Creating designs, relevant content, intuitive flow and navigation across various platforms are essential, it impacts the user’s experience and has a direct effect on business strategy. Northwestern’s Master of Information Design & Strategy prepares students with the skills, information, and knowledge of UX/UI principles, learning design, content strategy, and data analytics. With this, graduates can step into exciting new careers that require the ability to translate information and data into meaningful visual forms, narratives and interfaces.
Particularly within digital media, organizations have an acute need for data and information design experts who can blend digital design with a user’s online experience.
Information Design & Strategy Roles and Salary
Large global companies across industries, as well as public sector institutions, are hiring professionals who can translate complex information into compelling visual forms and narratives, develop and implement comprehensive digital business and communication strategies, design seamless customer experiences, and create innovative solutions to complex business problems leveraging analytics. Individuals with these skills are in demand.
Graduates of this program can explore a wide range of opportunities.
IN ROLES SUCH AS:
- Art Director
- Senior Art Director
- Creative Director
- Interaction Designer
- Responsive Designer
- Learning Designer / Instructional Designer
- Web Designer
- Information Architect / Designer
- User Interface Designer
- User Experience Designer
- Experience Designer
- UX Strategist
- UX Architect
- UX Product Manager
- UX Analyst
- Content Strategist
- Usability Researcher / Specialist / Analyst / Engineer
Career Potential
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts continued growth in any area touched by digital design, due in large part to the increasingly important role that digital media play in building strong customer relationships.
Their data show that the adjacent fields of web design, public relations, communications and graphic design are growing. This likely means that information design career options will increase as well, as they require a more advanced level of these same skills. Digital media isn’t going away, and these BLS stats and trends prove it. By 2032, there will be job growth increases of:
- 6% for art director and creative director jobs
- 6% for public relations and media communication specialist jobs, with much of the growth fueled by increased attention on customer relations and social media.
- 16% for web designer and UX developers
The BLS shows the following 2022 median salaries for these roles related to information design:
- Art Director/Sr. Art Director/Creative Director: $105,180
- Web Designer/User Experience Designer/Information Architect: $80,730
According to PayScale, the average data visualization professional earns an annual salary of about $80,000
IDS Specializations
A sample of professional roles that align with the four specializations offered in this program.
Content Strategy
- Content Strategist
- Art Director/Creative Director
- Chief Knowledge Officer
- Chief Marketing Officer
UX/UI
- UX/UI Designer
- Web Designer
- UX Manager
- UX Researcher
- UX Writer
- Information Architect or UX Architect
- UX Strategist
Communication with Data
- Usability Researcher
- Usability Specialist
- Usability Engineer/Analyst
- Chief Data Officer
- Chief Innovation Officer
Learning Design
- Learning Designer
- Instructional Designer
- Content Strategist
- Production Designer