form follows data

Andrew Vande MoereUniversity of SydneyKey Centre of Design Computing & Cognition

the symbiosis between design & information visualization

introductiondesign versus information visualization

artists, designers, architects use information visualizatione.g. new media art, presentations, shape generation, …

information visualization ‘inspired’ by creative designe.g. art principles, ambient visualization, informative art, …

symbiotic dependencies?‘creative’ information visualization

integrate emotional state, user engagement, spatial environment, …

versus design(ed) ‘visualizations’use of effective mapping, visual cognition, usability, comprehension, …

information visualizationdefinition

graphical representation of abstract datadetect patterns & interferences from visual form

computer science, psychology, semiotics, cartography, art, …

abstract datanon-spatial: no natural representation versus ‘visualization’ or ‘scientific visualization’

required: visual / data mapping metaphor representing structure & relationships within data

historical cyberspace definition

“Cyberspace, a consensual hallucination, experienced daily by billions of legitimate operators, in every nation, by children being taught mathematical concepts. A graphic representation of dataabstracted from the banks of every computer in the human system.Unthinkable complexity. Lines of light ranged in the non-space of the mind, clusters and constellations of data. ....” (Gibson 1984, 67)

information visualization & designcyberspace

early predecessor of design & information visualizationmetaverse, dataspace, matrix, electropolis, cyburbia, cybertecture, …

imaginary, creative information visualizationdescribes data visualization, data experience, data interaction, …

‘cyberspace architects’ (Negroponte, Mitchell, …)schooled in art & computer sciences -> creative design of virtual spaces

information visualization in designpresentation & analysis tool

overview design problem & frame possible solutionse.g. site investigations, document collections, flows, regulations, …

approachoften aesthetic, engaging, novel metaphors

not limited by task analysis, usability tests, cognitive studies, …

information visualization in design‘information’ architecture

creates liveable, workable & attractive environmentsaccording to occupants needs, structure, contextual constraints, …‘form follows function’ (Louis Sullivan)‘machine for a living’ (Le Corbusier)

organizes & present ‘information’ for purpose~ aesthetical & functional structure of ‘information’

design in information visualizationinformation visualization focus

efficiency & convenience considerationsusability enhancements, data organization algorithms, …

effectiveness evaluationstask-oriented (versus user experience)

design in information visualizationcurrent information visualization tendencies

few external inspirationse.g. interaction design, multimedia art, computer graphics, …or insights from color theory, visual cognition, generative design, …

design in information visualizationdata mapping metaphor

support users understand data in conceptual termsintuitive data comprehension through initial familiarity & experience

design in information visualizationdata mapping metaphor

opposite: data ambiguityrepresentation intriguing, engaging, explorative, open interpretation, …

create experienceusers are motivated, are curious, spend more time, learn more, …

design + information visualizationnew media

translation of all existing media in numerical datanew media art

connection between content & form (interface) motivatedintegrate emotional value & aesthetics

information aesthetics “aesthetics of information access” (Manovich, 2001)media objects that ‘aestheticize’ information processing

current interfaces are new cultural forms of information society

design + information visualizationinformative art

computer-augmented or amplified ‘work of art’aesthetical object & information displayemploy & manipulate known forms of art

design + information visualizationambient display

present information within space (Ishii et al., 1997)through subtle changes in light, sound, movement, smell, …

information in periphery of attention (Redstrom et al., 2000)non-critical, aesthetic, adapted to environment, inhabitants & activities

symbiotic relationshipsresearch & education opportunities

in design use of effective visual metaphors, data mapping, tasks, usability, …

in information visualization integration of user experience, aesthetics, environment, …

future context: technological developmentsmultimodal interfaces, ubiquitous computing, geo-location, …

http://infosthetics.com/