Category: visual methods
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Explaining the value of a transdisciplinary practice
The Information Design & Critical Theory course examines various theoretical models of sensemaking, mapping, and visual communication intrinsic to information design that help students understand the broad scope of the practice, its goal, and value, as well as their ethical responsibilities, as practitioners who soon will join the workforce. Students unpack concepts through mapping assignments…
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Creativity + Science: Podcast episode
Images from students’ final presentations (Fall, 2022) Domain-specific creativity research in science – such as in biology, chemistry, or ecology – is rare, despite the pressing need for a comprehensive understanding of scientific creativity for enhancing science. Most prior research has focused on studying scientific genius (Big C) rather than the role of creativity in…
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Making synthesis visible
Although we synthesize information every day, the activity of synthesis is often thought as mysterious or described as hard to explain. In simple words, synthesis is a turning point in problem solving: when we crystallize understanding and start to see connections from among the many discoveries and ingredients from our analysis. Whether if you are…
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Maybe you don’t need interviews
The use of research in design has increased dramatically in the last ten years. Nowadays, most design programs include research as part of the curricula, and courses about design research have also become common. However, research in design has also become synonym of “interviews”. Too often, I hear students said: “Yes, I did interviews,” or…
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Creativity + Science Course Final Presentations
After eight weeks, this Thursday was the last class of the Creativity + Science online course I taught for science PhD students at the School of Exact and Natural Sciences (University of Mar del Plata, Argentina). The course was structured in two units: Unit 1. Personal creativity: Students learned the science behind creative thinking to…
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Implications of dual coding for information design
As part of a project I am collaborating on, I recently learned about dual coding theory which was introduced by Allan Paivio in the 1970s. In short, dual coding is a cognitive psychology theory that argues that the use of visuals and words can aid the explanation of new content (to expand on learned material) and improve…
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Understanding the use of Field Research in Design
Last month, I attended the Decipher Conference organized by AIGA Design Educators Community and hosted by the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (Michigan). The conference was focused on themes related to defining, doing, disseminating, supporting, and teaching design research. In addition to the holistic approach…
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Design Thinking for Art & Design Educators
Last week I was pleased to go all the way to Soria in Spain to teach a three-day workshop on design thinking and team dynamics to the educators of Escuela de Arte y Superior de Design (EASD – Art & Design School). Soria is located two and half hours away from Madrid and is the capital of the…
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Visual reasoning through information design
The visual communication of complex or less known topics (e.g. science, medicine, mathematics) in simpler and clearer ways appeals to users and readers’ visual reasoning. Visual reasoning is the process of both analysing information presented in visual form (e.g. pictures, diagrams, drawings) and solving problems based on visual logic combining verbal, mathematical and visual analysis. As with other types of reasoning,…
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A closer view to creative thinking
How designers think or how the creative thinking and problem-solving processes work have been subjects of several studies (Goldschmidt, 1990; Cross et al., 1996; among others) involving a wide range of disciplines and fields from cognition, psychology, visual thinking to design research. Particularly, every time I need to write or think, I can easily be…
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Fun Design!
Since a while, we (closest design friends and me) discuss about the current situation of design—design environment, community, design industry, work, clients, etc. To some extent, we think that design has become too serious. Yes, I know, I write a serious-approach-to-design blog, but this doesn’t mean that design does not have to be enjoyable and…
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magic napkins
Thanks to a comment, I borrowed from the library The back of the Napkin. Dan Roam, the author, emphasises the power of visual thinking through simple drawings. Beyond the book content, one thing that really got my attention was the used of Napkins to draw: ‘so I pulled a pen from my suit pocket and…
Sheila Pontis 