FEATURED AUTHOR

Sheila Pontis

Professional Specialist, Lecturer & Partner
Princeton University & Sense Information Design

Sheila Pontis is an information designer bridging theory and practice with nearly 18 years of experience combining design research and information design. She received a PhD in Information Design from University of the Arts London, and currently is partner at Sense Information Design, and teaches information design and design thinking at Princeton University. She is trained in design and ethnography, and has a deep interest in understanding people, and creating solutions to address their needs.

Subjects: Anthropology - Soc Sci, Art & Visual Culture, Communication Studies, Education, Information Science

Biography

Sheila Pontis was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina where she completed a five-year BA(Hons) in Graphic Design at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA, FADU). When she finished her undergraduate studies and after working as a junior editorial designer, in 2003 she moved to Barcelona to complete a postgraduate degree in Editorial Techniques and a Masters of Advanced Studies degree (MPhil) in Information Design both at the University of Barcelona. Years later with more experience working in the publishing sector as an in-house information and editorial designer, her passion for complex diagrams and information design took her to London to complete her PhD at the London College of Communication, University of the Arts London. Sheila has ample teaching experience in higher education and in the professional sector facilitating workshops and short courses. Most notably, she has taught at University College London, Ravensbourne University London and Goldsmith University in the UK, Rutgers University and Parsons School of Design in the US, and FADU-UBA in Argentina. For her commitment to professionalism in teaching and learning in higher education, in 2014, she was recognised as a Fellow member of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) in the UK.

Since 2009, she has been actively writing on her blog: Mapping Complex Information (sheilapontis.wordpress.com), about her learnings, challenges and thoughts on information design, ethnography, education and other topics she is passionate about. Increasingly her blog has become an interactive platform for professionals, students and academics among other readers to share their experiences and suggestions, and pose questions.

In 2014, Sheila moved to the New York area in the US. Since then, she has been tackling new challenges and expanding her design expertise and teaching experience. Among other projects, she has created new courses and actively contributes to the development of programmes that aim to bring design education to non-design universities, including Princeton University and Rutgers University. Lately, she has taught different forms of design like information design, interaction design, design thinking, design research, and information visualization, to undergraduate and graduate students, and also to professionals from various industries through workshops and short courses. In addition to teaching, she has also produced work for diverse industries and organisations in the United States, South America and Europe including Transport for London, Elsevier, Unilever and NHS.

Currently, she is a professional specialist and lecturer at Princeton University, and partner at Sense Information Design LLC, a New York-area design consultancy promoting understanding in all aspects of collaboration and communication.

Education

Areas of Research / Professional Expertise

Personal Interests

Websites

Sense Information Design - Company

Books

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