Biography

Sheila Pontis was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina where she completed a five-year BA(Hons) course in Graphic Design at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA, FADU).

When she finished her BA studies, she moved to Barcelona to complete a Postgraduate degree in Editorial Techniques and a Master of Advanced Studies degree (DEA diploma) in Information Graphics both at the University of Barcelona. In 2008 her passion for complex diagrams and information design brought her to London to complete her PhD at the London College of Communication, University of the Arts London.

Her approach to research has always been inherently interdisciplinary. During her practice-led PhD, she took a scientific and rational approach to design thinking and worked with varied qualitative methods from across the social sciences (including case study analysis, questionnaires and surveys, focus groups, workshops, design probes and key informants approach).

As a professional information designer she has always been particularly concerned with understanding the ‘non-visual’ stages of the diagrammatic design process. Her work and research interests are oriented towards the conceptual aspects of information design, the creation of diagrams, design research education, and the development of methods and tools to improve understanding of complex information to enhance professional practice.

Since August 2009, this blog has been an interactive platform for sharing her PhD research progress and her information design thoughts. This space has also encouraged the participation of many professionals, students and academics sharing points of view, theories, comments, suggestions, and proposals around the main themes of her research: diagrams and information design.