Since the corona pandemic at least, the social significance of scientific communication has become more than clear, especially in the area of health research.

Visualizations — from classic graphic design, scientific illustrations, explanatory films, 3D animations to data visualizations and information graphics in interfaces — shape not only the tone of this communication, but also how it works. The Kiel Science Communication Network (KielSCN¹) has set itself the task of examining the effect of such visualizations in more detail.

An interview with Julia C. Ahrend & Björn Schmidt. www.kielscn.de

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KielsCN has just been founded — what exactly are you up to?

We want to design visualizations and then explore them in various contexts. The idea that unites us all — whether from a didactic, emotional psychology, biological or design perspective — is that we want to find out how they work by examining science communication products. As designers, we are particularly interested in the following questions: Can the effects identified be attributed to formal aesthetic or conceptual elements? What can we learn from the results for the development of future formats? Which emotions should design promote and when to support the process of understanding?

What is exciting about research for you as a designer?

We have both had the experience in previous jobs that there is often no budget or time to evaluate media formats in practice. The question of what impact they have on society, how people interact and react, concerns us — and is now on the research agenda at KielSCN. Using collaborative design methods, we want to involve future users directly in the design process and thus take their needs and feedback into account during design. For us, the future of design lies in co-design, which brings interdisciplinary researchers, designers and communicators together. In the long term, we want to develop more sustainable models for this type of cooperation on a structural level — for example, the design of an online platform with our partner Spectrum of Science is planned.

What influence can you have as a designer?

Design can help make complex scientific processes and things invisible to the human eye visible and understandable. The more intensively we find out how visualizations work, the more we as designers can expand the judgment we have acquired during studies and training about aesthetic and formal design criteria and use means of expression even more specifically. This enables us to create a valid information base for an enlightened and democratic society.

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1 — A cooperation project between Kiel University, the Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education and the Muthesius Kunsthochschule Kiel, www.kielscn.de

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The article was published in the column “Shaping the Future” in graphic magazine 04/22.

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