Information Visualization and Documentation for themes of Visual Culture

Abstract

Visual Culture envisages a trajectory of creations with information, visual styles, concepts and practices by both the makers and receivers. This paper presents the applications of popular cognitive theories during the information visualization stage followed by the graphic design students in the course of Documentation of Visual Culture at a design school in India. The baseline approach in the course has been to impart the theories and models from the fields of information visualization, cognition, history, social space and visual imagery. The course contributes a conceptual framework of 5-Pillars of Cognition: 1) What and How to Observe, 2) How to See, 3) How to Read, 4) How to Plan a Theme and 5) How to Create a Visual Language for a Visual Space/Culture. Each student applied these five pillars along with the theories of cognitive semiotics to form, reform and transform the documentation designs. The research methodologies tap the styles and trends in the context of readers’ preferences, social milieus and the linked technological scenarios. Designs showcase the styles in documentations with respect to the information content, readers, social milieus, heritage scenarios and communication. The insights articulate the rationale behind preserving form-content associations in the visual culture themes.