From Physical Campus Space to a Full-view Figure: University Atlas Compiling Based on ‘Information Design’ Concept

Abstract. Traditional university maps, taking campus as the principal body, mainly realize the abilities of space localization and navigation. They don’t take full advantage of map, such as multi-scale representations and thematic geo-graphical information visualization. And their inherent propaganda functions have not been entirely developed. Therefore, we tried to take East China Normal University (ECNU) located in Shanghai as an example, and integrated various information related to university propaganda need (like spatial patterns, history and culture, landscape ecology, disciplinary constructions, cooperation, social services, development plans and so on). We adopted the frontier knowledge of ‘information design’ as well as kinds of information graphics and visualization solutions. As a result, we designed and compiled a prototype atlas of ‘ECNU Impression’ to provide a series of views of ECNU, which practiced a new model of ‘narrative campus map’. This innovative propaganda product serves as a supplement to typical shows with official authority, data maturity, scientificity, dimension diversity, and timing integrity. The university atlas will become a usable media for university overall figure shaping.