Inverted Pyramid (Lidwell et al. 2010, 140-141) refers to a way information can be presented so that critical information can be presented first followed by additional information in “descending order of importance.” The inverted pyramid is composed of the critical, or lead, information and the elaborative, or body, information. News articles may only have the key paragraph showing on the first page with the body (the elaborative information) available if requested. Although important information may be presented first, since presentation of information is be descending order of importance, the lack of excitement build-up can allow the presentation to be “perceived as uninteresting.”
Example of Inverted Pyramid from Universal principles of design:
Online example of Inverted Pyramid:
Important headlines and critical information is shown first and people can click further into the links to read more details. This is a screenshot of the front page of https://www.nytimes.com/ taken on October 4th 2018.
Examples of Inverted Pyramid found in the wild:
The most critical information is presented first in this bathroom located at Hakata Station in Japan. We know here that it is a bathroom for females but we can also see that there are facilities for changing diapers etc.
This is a chart of the pickup dates for certain types of trashes located in Kumamoto, Japan. The most commonly thrown out garbage, landfill, is presented first followed by paper, recyclables, compost, etc. The smaller details post times of pickup.
References:
Lidwell, William, Kritina Holden, and Jill Butler. Universal principles of design, revised and updated: 125 ways to enhance usability, influence perception, increase appeal, make better design decisions, and teach through design. Rockport Pub, 2010.