Understanding USA
Markle Foundation: Effort To Promote Awareness Of Civic Issues Through "Understanding USA"
Date Initiated: November 1999

This project was designed to increase public awareness of civic issues through a book and web site called Understanding USA. Developed by information architect Richard Saul Wurman and leading designers and policy professionals, "Understanding USA" uses graphic design to make difficult statistical information more accessible. This compendium covers topics ranging from Social Security, the national debt and education to immigration, the environment and crime.

The project consisted of two parts. In the first part, Markle provided the resources to acquire 10,000 copies of the Understanding USA book version for distribution to high school teachers (through Center for Civic Education), library systems, foundations, think tanks, universities, corporations, journalists, government officials, and new media professionals.

For the second part of the project, Markle provided support for the development of the online version of "Understanding USA." Richard Saul Wurman is an architect, designer, author and the founder of the annual TED (Technology, Entertainment & Design) conferences.