Clarifying Complexity
"Complexity isn't what it used to be. It's more -- and different"
Explaining Complex Concepts
Visual Complexity
Objective- the properties inherent in a system(many interrelated parts), information(voluminous, dense & unstructured) or task(too many cognitive operations needed complete them).
Subjective- based on individual perception and relates to a person's relative skills, knowledge and abilities.
Visual Communicator Goal
Our goal as visual communicators is to provide a full and complete graphical explanation while accommodating the limits and strengths of human cognitive architecture.
- Clarify rather than simplify...
Cognition & Complexity
Cognitive Load
increases as more of the information components of an explanation interact.
Building Accurate Mental Representations
Coherency- consistent logic that makes an explanation meaningful.(show steps of a process) Order of info is clear, extraneous information is limited and the graphic is visually unified and logical
Context- the framework within which new information is assimilated.
increases as more of the information components of an explanation interact.
Building Accurate Mental Representations
Coherency- consistent logic that makes an explanation meaningful.(show steps of a process) Order of info is clear, extraneous information is limited and the graphic is visually unified and logical
Context- the framework within which new information is assimilated.
Applying the Principle
Content Chunking
Chunk content so that schemas can slowly be built and gradually understood as a whole. E.g.
- Simple>complex
- Complex simplified into chunks in a chronological sequence
- Expose hidden parts and components of info (e.g. cut aways & cross sections)
- Revel Inherent Structure of the Information- (e.g. use day and weeks for a calendars & use layers for soil). When a graphic is visually organized so that it makes conceptual sense, it helps viewers get the message.
Content Chunking
Chunk content so that schemas can slowly be built and gradually understood as a whole. E.g.
- Simple>complex
- Complex simplified into chunks in a chronological sequence
- Expose hidden parts and components of info (e.g. cut aways & cross sections)
- Revel Inherent Structure of the Information- (e.g. use day and weeks for a calendars & use layers for soil). When a graphic is visually organized so that it makes conceptual sense, it helps viewers get the message.
Segments & Sequences
Complex Info Reaction
People generally feel overwhelmed when confronted with complex information
Information Segmentation
- We naturally segment activities into seperate events
- Designers segment info by dividing visual info into small meaningful units.
- Show the context of the individual info segments within the system. (e.g. show big picture, introduce overriding concepts at the start)
Complex Info Reaction
People generally feel overwhelmed when confronted with complex information
Information Segmentation
- We naturally segment activities into seperate events
- Designers segment info by dividing visual info into small meaningful units.
- Show the context of the individual info segments within the system. (e.g. show big picture, introduce overriding concepts at the start)
Specialized Views
Revealing the Hidden
Reveling what is physically hidden and depicting unobservable phenomena is an effective way to portray complex systems. (eg. cutaways, magnifications, exploded and interior views)
- Some situations call for technical illustrations and others call for actual pictures
Exploded Views
- Good for showing how this fit together
- Arrows and other visual queues are added the function of the object can be shown.
- Not always realistic depictions
- Good for showing how this fit together
- Arrows and other visual queues are added the function of the object can be shown.
- Not always realistic depictions
Magnification
- Employ in a situation with a high level of small scale detail
- pull magnification away from the object, but stay connected with lines.
- Can show a holistic view before the viewer delves into the details.
Implied Motion
Visual Tools
Motion lines- suggest speed
Stroboscopic movement- progression of images similar in size & shape, but differ in their position or pose
action arrows- easily understood by audience
motion blur- some of the objects detail can be lost
Visual Tools
Motion lines- suggest speed
Stroboscopic movement- progression of images similar in size & shape, but differ in their position or pose
action arrows- easily understood by audience
motion blur- some of the objects detail can be lost
Inherent Structure
Marriage of Aesthetic and Semantic
- Sensory impression of the graphics structure helps us interpret its meaning
- information mapping- memory improves dramatically when people apply hierarchical organization into large amounts of information. (e.g. representing concepts in spatially constructed diagrams)
- establishing structure entails finding the conceptual basis of the graphics meaning and expressing this through visual language.
- When varied forms are arranged in proximity to one another, viewers can compare the two in order to find similarities and comparisons.
LATCH
- Location
- Alphabet
- Time
- Category
- Hierarchy
Principle Statement
There are various ways to clarify complexity, but being cognizant of what approach is appropriate for your design problem is necessary for successfully visually communicate your message.
Marriage of Aesthetic and Semantic
- Sensory impression of the graphics structure helps us interpret its meaning
- information mapping- memory improves dramatically when people apply hierarchical organization into large amounts of information. (e.g. representing concepts in spatially constructed diagrams)
- establishing structure entails finding the conceptual basis of the graphics meaning and expressing this through visual language.
- When varied forms are arranged in proximity to one another, viewers can compare the two in order to find similarities and comparisons.
LATCH
- Location
- Alphabet
- Time
- Category
- Hierarchy
Principle Statement
There are various ways to clarify complexity, but being cognizant of what approach is appropriate for your design problem is necessary for successfully visually communicate your message.
