Press Releases
University of Reading making tax forms less taxing
Release Date : 10 March 2010
An important new research project led by the University of Reading hopes to have a positive impact on people's lives by making complicated documents easier to read.
This Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded international project brings together experts in the field of information design, from right across the higher education sector. Academics and postgraduate students from graphic design, applied linguistics, human factors and psychology, will join information design specialists and users from the financial and health sectors, creating a forum for knowledge exchange.
The project will look at leaflets and forms concerning benefits, tax, health, pensions and mortgages, and focus on three themes - graphic literacy, the needs of particular user groups and the means of evaluating effectiveness. Further areas will be identified for future collaborative research relevant to both document users and producers in the UK and beyond.
The Dean of the University of Reading's Faculty of Arts and Humanities and leader of the project, Professor Sue Walker, said: "I am delighted that we have been awarded funding for this ambitious and timely project. Through discussion, working groups, contract research and innovative projects, we aim to demonstrate that design makes a difference to how people understand and use information that affects everyday life."
The University's Simplification Centre focuses on how to make overly complex information clearer, through a programme of research, training and consultancy.
Experts from the Centre and Reading's Department of Typography & Graphic Communication will work with colleagues from across the globe on this key project.
Professor Walker continued: "I very much look forward to working with researchers from leading universities in the UK, Europe and Brazil. The funding confirms Reading's reputation for excellence in information design and the network will provide a hub for research activity and collaboration. Furthermore, it reinforces the work of the Simplification Centre and the network will benefit from the Centre's growing government and industry membership."
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For all media enquiries please contact James Barr, University of Reading Press Officer on 0118 378 7115 or by email on j.w.barr@reading.ac.uk
Notes for Editors:
The Simplification Centre is part of the University of Reading's strategic vision for research to deal with major real-world problems. Two other research centres due to be launched at the University later in the year are the Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health and the Centre for Integrated Neuroscience and Neurodynamics.
During this two-year project, The University of Reading will work with colleagues from the universities of Surrey, Lancaster and Cardiff, the Royal College of Art, Central St Martins University of the Arts, Tilburg University, the Federal University of Pernambuco, the Federal University of Parana, the University of Sao Paulo and the University of Brasilia.
The University of Reading is rated as one of the top 200 universities in the world (THE-QS World Rankings 2009).
The University of Reading is one of the UK's top research-intensive universities. The University is ranked in the top 20 UK higher education institutions in securing research council grants worth nearly £10 million from EPSRC, ESRC, MRC, NERC, AHRC and BBSRC. In the RAE 2008, over 87% of the university's research was deemed to be of international standing. Areas of particular research strength recognised include meteorology and climate change, typography and graphic design, archaeology, philosophy, food biosciences, construction management, real estate and planning, as well as law.
Standards of teaching are excellent - the University scored highly in the National Student Survey 2009. 87% of Reading students responding to the survey stated they were satisfied with the quality of their course.
The University is estimated to contribute £600 million to the local economy annually.
University of Reading is a member of the 1994 Group of 19 leading research-intensive universities. The Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in university research and teaching. Each member undertakes diverse and high-quality research, while ensuring excellent levels of teaching and student experience. www.1994group.ac.uk
More information at www.reading.ac.uk
Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC): Each year the AHRC provides approximately £102 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. In any one year, the AHRC makes approximately 700 research awards and around 1,350 postgraduate awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK. www.ahrc.ac.uk