Visual architecture is the overall design or structure of a visual tool such as a diagram or a visual aid. In this post and throughout this series we explore a few fundamentals you can use to ensure that the diagrams, project artifacts and teaching aids you create are effective.
Adding a visual element to your work has proven to dramatically increase the effectiveness of your efforts whether it be in the boardroom, at project team meetings or in the classroom. Good visual aids have been known to unify teams, give clarity to complex and vexing challenges, and illuminate and inspire the minds and lives of students, and those they infuence, for a lifetime.
ATTRIBUTES AND QUALITIES OF GOOD VISUAL ARCHITECTURE
Let's start this discussion by thinking about some of the key attributes of a well-architected diagram or visual aid. I like to begin by zeroing in on it's purpose (the what) and it's audience (the who). This may sound too basic to some but I can assure you that more efforts fail by neglecting these two simple items than almost any other.
HOW TO GET CLEAR ABOUT PURPOSE
I learned almost everything I needed to know about getting to clear, purposeful diagrams from my freshman english teacher (of all places). She taught us about using interrogatives to write good newspaper articles and papers. Remarkably they apply just as well to good visual architecture.
I remember very clearly the following poem by Rudyard Kipling from his work The Elephant's Child:
I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
We can put these "serving-men" to work for us too. I find that all diagrams and visual aids tend to fall into at least one of the following six categories of purpose:
- WHAT DIAGRAM
- WHO DIAGRAM
- HOW DIAGRAM
- WHEN DIAGRAM
- WHERE DIAGRAM
- WHY DIAGRAM
Now think about the last diagram or visual aid you created – what category does it fall into? We'll talk briefly about each one in this series starting with the "What Diagram."
WHAT DIAGRAMS
"What Diagrams" exist to help set context. I've used them in corporations to illuminate complexity, cost, and duplication.I've also used them in committees to identify areas under study, scope, or roles and responsibilities. In the classroom I've shown bodies of knowledge on a topic, provided overviews, and matched names with pieces and parts to a network.
"What Diagrams" can be used to bridge the gap between students and teachers, technical and business people, and any other diverse group that may be coming from different perspectives and backgrounds. Visual aids such as diagrams have the power to transcend specialized nomenclature and jargon getting people focusing and talking at the same level.
Good visual archecture includes being clear about the purpose of the diagram or visual aid. You can use the six serving-men to hone in on your purpose and improve the results of your work many times over.
Where do you use "what diagrams?" I'd be interested to hear about yoru experience with them and how they have helped you in your work. Please be sure to add your comments to this discussion below.
In my next post we'll be discussing "who diagrams" and their uses. See you then.