Expressing ideas visually

An image says more than a thousand words. This is the premise and promise of visual research. Instead of using words to generate and represent knowledge, visual research applies images, diagrams or videos to gain new insights. As a qualitative research methodology, it is used in a broad range of contexts within academic research and beyond. Indeed, many game studios, film productions or social media agencies apply visual research on a daily basis. They create concept maps, mood boards, story canvases or video essays to express ideas or condense existing knowledge. How can images, videos and diagrams be used to better understand and communicate a concept or an idea? What makes a convincing visual argument? And what kinds of knowledge are more effectively represented visually? These are some of the questions that will guide our experiments with different visual research methods.

This skills class is an in-depth training in visual research. Students learn to create and give feedback on concept maps, mood boards, story canvases, and videos essays. Each session explores one method and its potential for visual research. In a final project, students explore one visual research method in more depth.

In presence

This course has a strong practical character. Short introductions to different visual research methods are combined with atelier and feedback sessions. While group work is encouraged and practiced throughout the class, the final project will be an individual work.

Participation – pass/fail (attendance is obligatory for at least 80% of the lessons)
Final Project – pass/fail