Getting a picture of your thoughts: interactive visualization for creative work

Abstract

Creative work -- especially in business -- is often connected to highly complex data. While current software tools support manifold areas in working with complex data, they are very limited to support creative work. Little research has been done on what kinds of representations are supporting the externalization of mental efforts in the best way. Especially it is very challenging to give abstract mental concepts an appropriate representation. This doctoral research is creating and investigating novel approaches combining visualizations, interaction concepts and memory techniques to create design guidelines for interactive visualizations for creative work. First experiments have been conducted and the key principles are implemented partially in a prototype called BrainDump.