Dive Right In!

Explore new horizons of problem-driven visualization through design immersion.

This is the central question explored by Hall et. al. in their 2019 paper. The paper uses six case studies to introduce a new design methodology called design by immersion. Design by immersion describes collaborations across disciplines for problem-driven visualization, that incorporate direct, active, personal experience in a target domain. Analogous to the process of learning a spoken language through immersion, the visualization researcher actively participates in the work of the target domain in order to learn its language, processes, and culture. The immersion creates a shared experience, mutual understanding, and trust, to the benefit of research in both visualization and the target domain.

Design immersion can be a two-way street, in which new knowledge and skills emerge within the each participants’ area of expertise, as shown at the left (Figure 1). Using other design methodologies, collaborators often operate along the boundaries, with minimal knowledge outside of their home area of expertise. With immersive design, immersion trajectories can take many paths within the light purple “immersion space”.

In a basic form of immersive design, it is the visualization researcher who participates in the activities of a targeted domain. Nevertheless, the case studies document instances of reciprocal or “dual” immersion. In reciprocal immersion, the visualization and domain experts have a mutual exchange of learning the skills and research practices of the other. The deepest form of immersion, where a researcher becomes expert in both visualization and the target domain, is known as dual immersion. These “dual citizens” operate in the dark purple area of the immersion space.

There are several opportunities created through design by immersion. First, immersion enriches domain understanding through personal experiences. The visualization researcher gains deep personal knowledge of the problem space, beyond the theoretical. Deeper, more intuitive understanding of the domain brings insights into how to explore new domain-inspired visualization design spaces. Both visualization and domain research may expand into new territory. Finally, immersion facilitates strong interdisciplinary relationships. Through the shared immersive experience, common language and trust are developed, opening the door to new horizons for visualization and domain research.

There are four themes that define an immersive design experience:

These themes show up in various combinations of activities documented in the paper’s case studies. An individual prototypical activity — such as data analysis, study methods, prototyping, and learning about the domain, and communicating with collaborators — may contain only one or two themes. Researchers often mix and match among activities, sometime intuitively and increasingly with conscious planning, in a way that exhibits all four themes.

The authors offer some practical tips for creating an immersive research experience. Personal research interests and expertise, as well as availability of key primary and secondary partners in the immersion domain are key factors to consider in the planning stages. Once the immersion is initiated, the authors recommend three stages for implementing the collaboration, which can followed sequentially or iteratively:

There are a few other factors to consider before diving in. Immersive design requires a commitment of time and coordination to track literature in two or more disciplines, manage project activities, and navigate separate research funding and reward tracks. Nevertheless, the approach is an important addition to design methodology for exploring new horizons in problem-driven visualization.

For examples and to learn more, view this presentation given at InfoVis 2019 and read the full paper, cited below.

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