Panel design of communication: new steps

SIGDOC comes from a technical writing tradition, where literature and rhetoric play an important role. Communication is now giving a broader focus, especially as influences come from graphical design, web design, digital sound or digital multimedia. In Lisbon, we expect to discuss this focus of SIGDOC. This is an important transition that is being done, without loosing its identity. In fact, from the revision process the heterogeneity of view point was identified. This is the result of including more participants from multimedia, computer science and graphical design.

For the second time, SIGDOC will take place outside the American continent. For the first time it takes places in a non-English speaking country. It is the ideal place to discuss an important issue either for the technical documentation, either for software engineering or for design of communication communities: translation, internationalization, localization, and globalization.

Bologna process is transforming and making an authentic revolution in the European university panorama. This may be faced either as a threat or as an opportunity. In this context, the discussion about a curriculum in design of communication is an important step that may be undertaken by the SIGDOC. It is a step that may contribute to its affirmation either in academia or in practitioner context.