SIGDOC 2009 Diana Award: Apple Computer, Inc.

Every two years SIGDOC presents the Diana Award to an organization, institution, or business for its long-term contribution to the field of communication design. Apple represents just such an outstanding organization. To wit: the beginnings of personal computing (the Lisa) and the GUI and direct-user manipulation find their roots in the early Apple computers, as do pioneering efforts in laptops (the Powerbook) and handheld devices (the Newton) and, recently, in telecommunications and music appliances (the iPhone and the iPod). Apple's historically experimental, educationally-grounded, high-end approach to the total user experience has often set the pace for the high-tech industry.

Accepting the award on behalf of Apple Product Documentation is Sandy Korzenny, Director of Apple Product Documentation. Sandy's group of instructional designers, editors, graphic designers, project managers, and engineers is responsible for all print and online user documentation shipping with Mac OS X, iLife, iTunes, iWork, MobileMe, computer hardware, iPod, iPhone, and servers. It is an industry of rapid change for both the user and the communication designer. The best part of her job is working with her talented organization to investigate and incorporate new technologies and designs to help Apple customers quickly find answers to their questions. Throughout her career, Dr. Korzenny has held various positions in product documentation, beginning with developing computer-based training courses at Control Data Corporation, designing courses at Tandem Computers, to her current position as Director of Apple Product Documentation.  She received her B.A. in Education (Spanish) from Indiana University, and M.S. and Ph.D. in Instructional Technology from Michigan State University.

Read more about ACM SIGDOC's Diana Award.