How can visual explainers support society to solve wicked problems?

Imagination is a powerful tool, giving nearly all of us the ability to explore possibilities. Visual explainers can feed our imagination, helping people to understand complex problems, learn together, explore connections and find solutions.

New research led by Dr. Rahmin Bender-Salazar and Dr. Sinead Duane from the University of Galway demonstrates how explaining complex research in creative formats can ignite people to think visually. This ‘visual thinking’ supports thoughtful decision-making for overcoming society’s most wicked problems. The research team will present this exciting work at this week’s International Information Visualisation Conference hosted by SOAS – University of London.

Read the paper

Highlights:

1. Visual tools like maps, models, diagrams, dashboards, images, graphics, metaphors and stories inspire visual thinking to help people make sense of complex problems.
2. Every visual tells a story that can inform what matters, who is involved, what information is available and what actions can be taken.
3. Visual tools don’t provide an answer. They offer shared reference points known as ‘boundary objects’ to inspire constructive conversations and decision-making.

Why do we need visual thinking?

A wicked problem is one that is uncertain, changes over time and has no clear solution. Often, they involve people from all walks of life, intersecting systems needs, different lived experiences, and different opinions. We have an increasing list of wicked problems that impact economics, education, climate, health, and social wellbeing. However, there are opportunities to co-create solutions to benefit people and nature.

In this new research, the team from the University of Galway explain how visual thinking is a valuable tool to help people across sectors to collectively understand these complex problems and work towards solutions.

What is visual thinking?

Visual thinking uses tools like maps, diagrams, images, graphics, metaphors and stories to help people explore complex realities and imagine possible solutions. These tools (information visualisation) help to display complex data or information so that many different people who think differently can explore ideas, assumptions, relationships and build understanding.

How to create visual tools to enhance understanding

SYSTEMS, STORIES and DESIGN

In this research, the team structured visual thinking around stories that connect systems and design. By taking into account these three factors you can create visual tools to enhance understanding:

• Systems: Nothing exists in isolation. A system is a collection of connections for example ecosystems, communities, governments, universities etc…
• Stories: People understand the world and find meaning through stories. But different people from different sectors tell different stories and therefore highlight different causes and solutions. For example a swimmer will tell a different story compared to a water company when it comes to sewage pollution at a beach.
• Design: Visual design determines what information people see, what they ignore and what actions become possible. For example, a red warning symbol on an app influences behaviour differently than a table full of water quality numbers.

Using a “Boundary Object” to have shared conversations

A ‘boundary object’ is a tool that different people can use to have a shared conversation. For example, a map, model, diagram or dashboard. Although everyone is likely to interpret these tools differently, they create an opportunity for discussion where everyone has access to the same information.

Visual thinking for water safety

Imagine if scientists, policymakers, swimmers and water companies are all looking at the same systems map about water pollution. They might interpret the map differently, but they all share it as a common reference point. The map is the boundary object.

Dr. Rahmin Bender-Salazar said: “People don’t think in straight lines. Often complex problems have interlinking influences that are hard to untangle. One example is the Surfers Against Sewage App called the ‘Safer Seas and River Service’. The app warns people if the water is potentially polluted using maps, colours and and even ‘poop’ icons. The app’s user interface is simple and easy to understand. But behind the scenes sits a huge interlinking system of beaches, water companies, government agencies, researchers, tourists, residents and the media. Everyone has different interests but the app serves as a kind of thinking aid to guide people through these complexities so that people can take decisive action.”

Visual thinking and imagination

Interestingly, the authors also created a fictional political scandal using cats, dogs, ducks and squirrels. By mapping news stories, social media posts, images and information participants were asked to map what happened, who was impacted, and what should be done. The exercise encouraged systems thinking and showed that people naturally explored different views rather than jumping to conclusions.

Dr. Sinead Duane says: “Complex problems can’t be solved by data alone. Our research proposes that wicked problems are too interconnected and complex for linear thinking. Instead visual tools inspire collective imagination by externalising what people believe is happening inside a system. This bird’s-eye view enables people to come together from different backgrounds to imagine different viewpoints, alternative futures, causes and solutions.”

Find out more

To find out more about this research you can contact Dr. Rahmin Bender-Salazar and Dr. Sinead Duane. The paper will be published later this year and we will update the link here in due course.