Reflection – Visualization

Challenge

Communicating effectively through drawing is not as simple as selecting the right approach. Learning  how to see two-dimensional and three-dimensional information, understanding its complexities, and  interpreting from varied points of view is necessary. This is a challenge for me in design and  engineering who has varied but shallow visual experiences. I can range from being quite insensitive  to the physical world around me to having specific but narrow experiences.

Selection

Creating a research wall is a great way to display insights, photos, and artifacts – all the relevant  research outputs in one place. This approach helps me build connections between different findings  and understand the bigger picture. The visual aspect of the wall triggers idea generation and enables  project members to better understand research insights. For this reason, design thinkers often use  tools such as persona which give a face to the customer/interviewee.

Visual tools that can be used for understanding the problem are for e.g. personas, mind maps,  customer journey maps.

Application

In the same way that sketching helps the designer to think and elaborate ideas, early prototyping is  another way of visualizing and testing new solutions, it is a visual manifestation of concepts, the  transformation of an idea in a testable model. In another word, the use of prototyping transforms  ideas from drawings on paper to tangible solutions. Visual tools that can be used for prototyping are  for e.g., desktop walkthrough, cardboard prototyping, paper prototyping, role-playing.

Insight

The drawing for designers is a way to express their ideas and only drawing simultaneously reveals  both the functional characteristics of an idea and its emotional content. It is not necessary to poses  good drawing skills – as the popular saying goes “a picture is worth a thousand words” and even a  simple sketch can tell us more than a 10-minute description of an idea. In a group setting,  visualization helps to spark idea generation. Seeing what other people are drawing, adding elements  to their drawing, or simply discussing the sketches helps to build on top of each other’s ideas.  Brainstorming sessions can be also enhanced using visual props such as nudge cards to stimulate  idea creation.

Approach

When used, this approach offers a rapid means for developing structured forms that are accurate in  proportion, perspective yet can be sufficiently flexible. By placing and securing tracing paper over  the grid, I can shape information into coherent statements of intent and effectively modify their  thinking (design) to create better proposals.

