Nicholas R. Batik
President,
Pleiades Publishing Services, Co.
My passion is Information design. I’m Nick Batik and my personal and professional life has been devoted to the art and science of preparing information so that it can be used efficiently and effectively. Multidisciplinary and dynamic information design draws on a wide range of skills. Since 1986, through, Serendal Research Institute, andt hen in 1992 with Pleiades Publishing Services, I have worked to facilitate the processing of visible and auditory language.
As lead designer with Pleiades Publishing Services, I focus on the development of information graphics – the diagramming and display of quantitative information to communicate ideas and information. My underlying philosophy of graphic design, ideography, graphic symbolology, photography, and digital art is to display information so it is useful, rather than just attractively.
As primary designer of “Our Living Resource”, a national award-winning, 720-page, full color, fully illustrated book published by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, I helped develop an online, collaborative team environment with the 223 authors, 900+ peer reviewers, editors, visual designers, and publishers across the country, including a researcher/writer on an iceberg in the Bering Sea with a laptop and a satellite phone. All of the content, revisions, notes, status, licensing, and restrictions including photos and illustrations were tracked with a database I wrote specifically for that project.
Pleiades has been involved with multimedia information design in the form of web content development and design, scriptwriting and audio/ video production as well as podcasting. As a web developer I have content, design and the technology experience in major web site design and implementation, including Project Manager/ Senior Designer and programmer of a 2,400 page, 2,500+ image, 18,000+ link database-driven web site created back in 1994. My work with Pleiades Publishing Services reflects my passion for elegant and effective information design and is dedicated to using design technology to communicate, and manage Information in a way that is beneficial to our clients and our clients customers.
In 1986 I co-founded, Serendal Research Institute – a firm that specializes in the practical application of science and technology to assist business owners, managers and corporate executives with decision-making, policy formulation, or other managerial functions.
As Serendal’s principle information architect I focus on the science of information acquisition, interpretation and processing. I am responsible for publication design – assuring the message content and language are clear, unambiguous and understandable.
I help people understand complex by subjects, turning raw data into graphic information, constructing illustrations and scientific visualizations. By using words, diagrams, type, information sequencing, data structures, 3D and animated models, I convert masses of numbers into relevant and useful information.
Over my many years as an information designer I have researched and developed a wide range of projects, including market research, feasibility studies, financial information, administrative and management reports, user guides, technical manuals, mind-mapping, and directional information. I typically research current design trends in the target markets, competitive positioning, the cultural psychology of color and imagery, as well as current and historical perceptions of my client and their products.
I have written numerous training courses, articles and seminars on design, and publishing. I conduct one-on-one training, and have lectured at publishing conferences and in-house seminars in over 100 cities across the US, England, and Scandinavia.
I write extensively and have both management and technical articles published, and have authored white papers on technical project management. Additionally I have written and contributed to a number of quality management and statistical process management articles and books, and I use those process tools as part of my overall management strategy.
I am a passionate proponent of life long learning and continuous personal improvement. I want to understand and then share my education and experiences. I am an educator and trainer and much of my writing is focused on the history of information technology, how that effects how we communicate ideas today and how to design information so it can be easily used by its intended audience.
I feel that range and balance are an important part of the human experience. As a former Design Engineer with StorageTek, I have a passion for electronics, and industrial and process design. Yet I also nurture my creative side – designing stained glass art, lapidary (stone/gem cutting), and photography. I combine both my analytical and creative sides through graphic design, visual information design, and digital image processing. Beyond that, I enjoy teaching and sharing my passions, with individuals, in classrooms, and on stage.