Informationtil

Informationtil is a neologism used in information design to denote a compact, modular unit of information intended for rapid reading and targeted dissemination. In practice, an informationtil resembles a tile or card that presents a single data point or concise fact, accompanied by essential metadata and contextual cues. The concept emphasizes scannability, relevance, and ease of reuse across contexts such as dashboards, knowledge bases, and learning platforms.

A typical informationtil includes a short title, a main takeaway or value, a minimal description or explanation, and metadata such as source, timestamp, and audience or relevance tags. Visual cues like icons, color accents, and typography are often used to enhance quick comprehension. Because informationtils are modular, they can be arranged into mosaics or sequences that tailor information presentation to specific user needs or workflows.

Origins and usage notes exist mainly in design practice and speculative discourse rather than as a formally adopted standard. The term appears to blend the word information with til, a preposition in Danish and Norwegian meaning “for” or “to,” signaling the intent to deliver targeted information. Consequently, informationtil is frequently discussed in relation to information tiles or card-based UI patterns rather than as a separate, universally defined concept.

Applications of informationtils include dashboard design, instructions and help systems, news aggregation, and educational interfaces where users benefit from concise, contextualized data units. While adopted informally by some designers, the term remains less formalized and is often used interchangeably with related concepts such as information tiles or card components. See also: information tile, dashboard tile, information architecture.