The recent events of the Iranian elections have shown the true power of the internet as a communication medium and more important the power this system can have in changing the world. Clay Shirky in the Ted talk talks about how this medium not only makes the others obsolete but fundamentally changes the way the users interact with not only the technology but the producers of content (aka business or those in power).

For quite awhile now we have lived in a world where the control of technology and weapons allow a few to hold dominion over very large groups of people. The only way to overcome this has been through the slow, and often bloody, accumulation of large enough groups to wrest power. The key to creating and growing these groups is communication, which has traditionally been difficult. The typical means of getting a message out require expensive technology, professionals to run the tech and uninhibited means of delivery (not controlled by the government). The internet as Shirky points out gets rid of all but one of these hurdles. But as we’ve seen all to often (China, Iran, North Korea etc), entire parts of the internet can just be shut down. Hinder communication enough and throw in a dash (or more) of intimidation and you can quell an uprising.

This brings us back to the fundamental problems with communication. It has traditionally been one way and easily shut down, word needs to spread by mouth, which is relatively slow. While I’m as sick of the next person of hearing about it Twitter proves just how fast the internet can be. In these situations speed not only improves the chances of effectiveness but it can also save lives. Of course this is a moot point if those in power just shut down the means of communication. Which brings us to another problem with communication, it has to be mobile.

What’s needed is a moving target. A website that can hop domains easily and quickly, or be present in hundreds of locations simultaneously, and allow for the uploading and downloading of information. Coupled with a SMS system to send the location(s) of the site to people. Such a site could keep the lines of communication and collaboration open with large groups of people while being much more difficult to shut down. This creates a place where people can not only organize but also share first hand accounts with the rest of the world. There are numerous issues and holes in the logic here, maybe it relies too much on technology. Perhaps just a well researched and considered framework for organizing and mobilizing large groups made open and free to the world might be more beneficial. One thing is for sure as the world becomes more educated and gains access to the rest of the world there will be more need for these types of tools. President Obama said it perfectly when he quoted Dr. Martin Luther King the other day.

“Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.”

Ever four years (yes I know they’ll start on the new one in about a week) elections enter our lives bringing with them many things including constant tv, radio, newspaper ads and bitter family debates. Most of the election baggage is annoying but for designers there is one huge bonus, a slew of beautiful well thought out infographics. Oh beautiful infographics, ever need inspiration?, look no further. These sets of complex and dense sets of data are beautiful when done well and nauseating when not. The rise of the interactivity of the web has the ability to take infographics to eleven. While the presidential election is finally the graphics are still being pumped out for retrospective views or ongoing races/recounts (someday MN will have a senator). Below is a list of nice graphics I’ve come across this time around.

New York Times: Always a source of inspiration they’ve had some particularily good ones this year.

New York Times Election Results Page

Obama Speech, McCain Speech

Electoral Shifts

Milestones of Barack Obama

Milestone of John McCain

Dissecting the Changing Electorate

you can go here for more from the New York Times

Washington Post:

this one is really detailed Election Winners by County

Good: While not always non-partisan their graphics are always good.

The First 100 Days: Time line of the first 100 days of every president since FDR.

Voters Guide

It’s the Economy, Stupid!

Again this is just a short list of the good info design that we’ve been treated to. if you know of others post them in the comments to share with all. Here’s to the next four years.

I love Google. Just when I was thinking I would have to mess around with a city gov website to figure out where my voting location is Google come to the rescue. Facebook and other social apps are doing things with people’s status etc. to get out the vote, but Google is doing something truly useful. Now if only it linked to sample election ballots it would be perfect.

The design of ballots has become one of the most famous examples of design’s impact on the world. Since the butterfly ballot, there has been much talk of improving the ballots, but little progress. This year’s ballots in North Carolina are not much better. The question I have is when are they going to let someone fix these? More on ballot design from the AIGA, Brennan Center For Justice, and more on the North Carolina Ballots here from the New York Times.

An integral part of any political election is the campaign logo. They provide instant name recognition for any candidate, as well as publicly state your support for a candidate (sometimes for years after said candidate has lost). The most sophisticated candidates know that type can be used to evoke certain characteristics they would like to be seen embodying. Throw in some stars and stripes and you have a election logo, as well as a clear statement that will (hopefully) be tied to the candidate’s name for years to come. Logoblink.com has an archive of these election logos from 1960 up to 2008. You can trace the development and increasing (or decreasing) sophistication throughout the years.