Re: From abstract to concrete visual representations

>From José 
> 
> However, I would like to learn from others how they interpret the
> suggestion that "the brain would respond more rapidly to graphical
> formats linked to colour and 3D shapes" with the practicalities of
> designing information to be use by people, not "brains".
> 
> In other words, I am curious to know how this sort of "basic research"
> conclusion can be (or has been) transferred to design practice.
> 

OK, I'm going to go out on a limb here (and far outside my area of
competence). The problem with this type of basic research in general is that
it has to be necessarily devoid of context - or, putting it another way,
because everything has context - the context tends to be so pared back that
it is untranslatable to everyday information design practice. 

When I read an  assertion like "the brain would respond more rapidly to
graphical formats linked to colour and 3D shapes", I'm immediately asking:
- whose brain?
- what type of response?
- which graphical formats?
- what colours?
- which 3D shapes?
- and do any of those bear any resemblance to the users, goals, tasks and
contexts for which I am designing?

If so, then maybe it's useful. Possibly. If I believe the research and if I
get a sufficient view of the examples used for it. 

Just hasn't happened very often. 

I wrote a longer rant on the same topic as an invited essay for the Journal
of Usability Studies.
http://www.upassoc.org/upa_publications/jus/2007november/jarrett.html

Best,
Caroline


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