Finding Visual Grammar in Research Materials
Interviews, photographs, and archives become explainable, extendable design rules.
Research goes beyond collecting a style
An early mood board can be full of similar pictures without providing a sound basis for design. Research finds recurring relationships: how information is recorded, how objects are used, and how people describe a place.
We classify material as language, behavior, objects, and environment. Each record keeps its source and context before aesthetic judgments begin.
From observation to a rule
In the Tidal Library project, daily changes in recorded tide levels provided a useful relationship. This became movable units against a stable baseline.
A visual grammar must explain what stays fixed, what can vary, what triggers change, and whether the system works at very small and very large sizes.
Three tests
- Unfamiliar content: Replace the titles and images. Does the system still work?
- Low cost use: Can an ordinary team make daily updates without a designer?
- Degradation: Does it remain recognizable in monochrome printing, on dim screens, and from a distance?
Research should keep explaining the system's form throughout the project.