Design by Immersion: A Transdisciplinary Approach to Problem-Driven Visualizations

Area of Science:

• Information Visualization
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Transdisciplinary Research

Background:

• Existing literature lacks methods for transdisciplinary visualization projects that benefit all involved disciplines.
• Problem-driven visualization and design studies have established practices but not for deeply integrated teams.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce and define "design by immersion," a novel methodological paradigm for problem-driven visualization.
• Provide an alternative perspective on conducting visualization work within transdisciplinary contexts.
• Explore opportunities and challenges of integrating domain expertise directly into the visualization process.

Main Methods:

• Developed the "design by immersion" methodology based on collaborative experiences.
• Presented six case studies illustrating the application and outcomes of design by immersion.
• Analyzed how visualization researchers and domain experts can embed within each other's work.

Main Results:

• Design by immersion enables exploration of new visualization design spaces inspired by specific domains.
• Personal immersion enriches domain understanding for visualization researchers and experts.
• Facilitates the building of strong, collaborative transdisciplinary relationships.
• Identified a diverse set of design activities adaptable to various collaboration types and goals.

Conclusions:

• Design by immersion offers a powerful framework for advancing problem-driven visualization in transdisciplinary teams.
• The methodology fosters deeper mutual understanding and innovative design outcomes.
• Addressing potential challenges is crucial for successful implementation of design by immersion.