1. Guilford County SciVis V105.02
Steps of a Design Brief
Guilford County SciVis
V105.02

2. Design Brief Problem, identification, and definition
Establish a clear idea of what is to be accomplished.
Identify the intended audience
Identify the specific problem

3. Design Brief Plan of work
A written step-by-step process by which the goal is to be accomplished
The plan can include expected time for completion
The plan should include any division of work among team members

4. Design Brief Research and Review of the Literature
Includes complete topic research of available literature
Remember to document resources

5. Design Brief Hypothesis Form a proposed solution to the problem
Use an if/then statement if necessary
A storyboard or sketch should be developed if needed
Storyboard = a pictorial sequence of events. The storyboard may include text and direction, as well as audio and video techniques.
Sketch = a quick drawing to illustrate your idea

6. Design Brief Data Collection (if applicable)
Collect data from experimentation or other appropriate means.
Organize data in appropriate charts or graphs

7. Design Brief
Identification of Appropriate Scientific Theory and Visualization Concepts
Select the most appropriate visualization method to present the theory or data. For example, the process of mitosis may be effectively demonstrated using presentation software, such as PowerPoint.
Explain the rationale behind the selection. Example: PowerPoint allows the user to show the sequence of stages in mitosis.

8. Design Brief Student Evaluation of the Design and Visualization
Students perform self-evaluation pointing out areas of difficulty
Pinpoint successes and failures in the project
Offer suggestions on how the project could be improved

9. Design Brief Presentation Present project to the class
Distribute an appropriate handout if needed

10. Design Brief Sample Evaluation Criteria/Rubric Design Brief
Statement of Problem
Plan of Work
Research
Accuracy of Information
Visualization
Presentation
Creativity
Student self evaluation
Total possible points 5%
10%
15%
20%
100 points

11. I.D.E.A.L. Problem Solving Process
I – Identify the problem
D – Define the plan of work
E – Explore the problem through research
A – Act on the problem’s possible solution
L – Look back at the process

12. S.A.F.E. Design Process
S – Simple. Keep your design simple. If you keep it simple, it will save you time and money. Also, you are less likely to have problems with the presentation
A – Appropriate. Make sure that it is appropriate for its purpose. The audience needs to be able to understand the presentation. You need to make it as complex or simple for younger and older viewer also that the understand the presentation

13. S.A.F.E. Design Process
F – Functional. Does the presentation work? Does it do what you want it to? If a visual confuses an audience more than it helps to understand the topic, then it is not performing its function.
E – Economical. Make sure you spend the majority of your time on things that are important. Concentrate on things in you design that make a difference in how well it works. It will contain just those elements needed to convey your message in a short period of time.

14. Different Types of Design
Data-driven -- design that uses data in the form of numbers or values. Examples: graphs, charts, and tables.
Concept-driven -- design that explains a concept, idea or theory. Examples: how a car works, the water cycle, or a drawing of a tree.

15. Different Types of Design
Empirically derived data – data that can be measured.
Computationally derived data – data that is obtained by performing mathematical calculations.

16. Organizational and Diagramming Tools
Flowcharting –a visualization method for displaying relationships in time or a process. Steps can be demonstrated with symbols while the flow process can be shown with arrows. Flowcharts can help determine problems with a process such as logical steps, delays, dead ends or miscommunication problems.

17. Organizational and Diagramming Tools
Basic Flowcharting Shapes:
Terminal Points - indicate the starting and ending points of the process.
Square – Represents a single step or a process. It usually contains the name of the specific action.
Arrows and Lines – indicate the sequence of steps and the direction of flow.
START/END
Get out of car

18. Organizational and Diagramming Tools
Decision Point – indicates a sequence in the process at which the user must choose an option like “yes/no” or “true/false”. The flowchart branches to different parts depending on the decision made.
Rhombus – represents input/output such as information coming in or leaving the system.
Circle – indicates that the flowchart will continue on another page, where a matching symbol (containing the same letter) is placed.
True/False
Input/Output A

19. Organizational and Diagramming Tools
Brainstorming -- a process that identifies as many answers to a problem as possible by submitting ideas without criticism or discussion of feasibility.
A brainstorming session will normally have a moderator and a recorder.

20. Organizational and Diagramming Tools
Nominal group technique -an organizational tool used to show the relative importance of issues, problems, or solutions by allowing individuals to rank each item.
Numerical values are generally used.

21. Organizational and Diagramming Tools
Venn Diagram – an organization tool used to show similar and difference among sets of items.