In this age of multidisciplinarity and cross-pollination between domain experts it’s important to find new ways to share research data and information. I don’t propose we eschew the creation of traditional documents and reports but we can aid and expedite comprehension through visual translation and visual thinking. In part, this would entail the creation of gigamaps 1: aesthecially designed visual artefacts that take on the form of richly detailed, large scale images2 representing various levels of textual and visual information. This map essentially captures and communicates the story of research and thought-process that has been—and is being—conducted. In turn, it acts as a centerpiece for collaboration with all the stakeholders.
1Sevaldson, B. (2011). Giga-mapping: visualisation for complexity and systems thinking in design. Nordic Design Research Conferences. retreived from http://ocs.sfu.ca/nordes/index.php/nordes/2011/paper/view/409/256
1Sevaldson, B. (2011). Giga-mapping: visualisation for complexity and systems thinking in design. Nordic Design Research Conferences. retreived from http://ocs.sfu.ca/nordes/index.php/nordes/2011/paper/view/409/256
2The form the gigamap takes is open. It could be a video, or even a entire room filled with research data. The key point to remember is that whatever form it takes, there has to be a flow. It is, after all, a type of “story”. It must allow for instinctual discovery. The creators and users need to be able to “read between the lines” to discover and tease out new insights.
