Visualization for research
2019, Design research, OCAD University
In collaboration with Christopher Rice, I explored the use of visual design to increase research usability. Originally tasked with creating an annotated bibliography of behavioural risk factors for falls, we decided to visualize our data into a summary poster and create a visually coded final document.
Role / Researcher, designer
Timeline / January 2019
“How might we increase the usability of secondary research through design?”
The design process
Brief
This was delivered for a design research course. The assignment was to create an annotated bibliography on a subject area related to falls that would be used by the greater class for a design studio project with Providence Health.
Research
We each found 20 relevant articles on our topic and met to refine our bibliography based on what we found and where we saw gaps in our knowledge. Our analysis was informed by WHO guidelines for fall risk factors.
Content Strategy
After deciding what research would be included we discussed and developed a content strategy for the poster and document. This included the most relevant information and novel ways of approaching the bibliography as data points.
Visualization
We translated our content strategy into a wireframe for the final poster. This included modular content blocks that would eventually be shifted around for the final poster.
We used a chord diagram to show the connections between what kind of research we used and how it aligned with the World Health Organization’s main risk factor categories.
An annotated bibliography is generally used as the main reference document for project research. We designed our final document with a colour-coded legend of main risk factors that are intended to make the research more usable for the reader.
