First came IDJ, the Information Design Journal (published since 1979 and still highly regarded). It provided a focus for an emerging community of graphic designers and writers, teachers and researchers, and made interesting research accessible. The first five conferences were organised, starting at Cranfield in 1984, bringing specialists in language and design together.

From IDJ to the IDA: plans to form an association were discussed at a conference (University of Bath, 1989) and matured on 14 May 1991, when around 200 people attended the launch event at the Royal Society of Arts in London, UK. Nick Ross (of BBC Radio’s ‘Call Nick Ross’) chaired the event and a panel debate on the value and relevance of information design.

The IDA was formed by people who recognised that:
"It is vital for the information that matters, that affects our lives, to be communicated well". (Patricia Wright, first Chair of the IDA).

"A healthy information design sector needs a flourishing research sector, a professional sector, and an education sector to link them and to train people to work in information design practice. The IDA is the place where the interchange between these constituencies can best happen." (Rob Waller, Origins of the IDA, 1994)

A little bit of IDA history

IDA launch press release 14 May 1991
Aims, membership and functions of the IDA press pack 14 May 1991

The (somewhat cheesily-named) IDeAs newsletter was how the IDA shared news and views before the internet, blogs, and social media. The content was slight, containing mostly reports of IDA meetings and events, plus the occasional spirited contribution...

No-go-logo Paul Stiff, IDeAs issue 6, April 1992
IDA launch IDeAs issue 2, May 1991
Modern typography an interview with Robin Kinross, IDeAs issue 12, April 1994