Just as a classroom where teacher and students are physically present develops into a community over the course of a semester, classes taught via the Internet become virtual learning communities, communities unbounded by physical space. This paper describes a course on information design that was implemented entirely via the Internet, including World Wide Web, listserv, and e-mail. The design of a virtual community was used, featuring 13 design components, which are discussed in detail: (1) competence; (2) a shared, understood goal; (3) mutual respect, tolerance, and trust; (4) creation and manipulation of shared spaces; (5) multiple forms of representation; (6) playing with the representations; (7) continuous but not continual communication; (8) formal and informal environments; (9) clear lines of responsibility but no restrictive boundaries; (10) decisions do not have to be made by consensus; (11) physical presence is not necessary; (12) selective use of outsiders for complementary insights and information; and (13) the end of collaboration. (AEF)