We don’t want your Social Security number, credit card information, or first-born child. You don’t even need a username or password. All you need is an interest in interpretation and/or graphic design and a moment to share your thoughts with us. (If you’re not interested in those topics, we’re happy to field questions on relationship advice, the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies, or what life is like when you’re a giant nerd.)

In 2003, Shea Lewis and I presented a session at the NAI National Workshop in Reno called “Meeting in the Middle: Combining Elements of Interpretation and Graphic Design.” (Shea’s background is in interpretation, mine is in graphic design.) The session was attended by interpreters who had been thrust into a position of creating nonpersonal media (websites, brochures, exhibits, etc.) with little or no training in graphic design. As we continue to present the session at NAI events, we continue to find the room filled with interpreters seeking knowledge about how to use interpretive principles to make decisions about color, type, composition, images, and other design elements.

Last year, we released a book (with Lisa Brochu) called Interpretation By Design on this subject. We hope you’ll use this website to provide your own input, ask questions, share ideas, or taunt us for being nerds.

We plan to have new posts here every Monday and Thursday, so check back regularly. (Coming Thursday, March 5: Shea discusses a website with a unique twist on photo manipulation.)