Diagramming: A Process
“The diagram is the possibility of fact - It’s not the fact itself
— Deleuze*
Odyssey Works DiagramSymbols, Graphs, and Maps
We divide our process diagrams in to Symbols, Graphs, and Maps. There is a great deal of overlap between these - all diagrams have symbols (even a square can be a symbol) - and some graphs are also maps. Here, we use these terms in particular ways:
Symbols: Graphic representations of an idea. The representation may or may not formally resemble what is represented. In other words, the symbol of the cross looks like an actual crucifix, while the symbol of the Star of David is more of a geometric abstraction. Symbols work because those using them and those looking at them agree upon what they mean. Their shapes may represent relationships or forms, but this is not necessary. A house in Monopoly looks like a house, but a dot on a metro map looks nothing like the station it represents. Symbols on maps are often explained in keys.
Graphs: These live in countless forms and are incredibly agile. They can be built on a cartesian grid with x-y axes and left-right progressions or they may be radial or spiral or may even shaped like a Voronoi Diagram. What distinguishes a graph is that symbols exist over the space of the image and distances and sizes represent values. These values may be exact or relative and representational. We find graphs to be extremely useful for representing events happening over time. The image above with the green and black handwriting is a graph built on a simple grid with an x-y axis. here, rectangles are symbols representing events of different types. Distance from the centerline represents the intensity of the experience.
Maps: Maps represent understanding of a territory. The territory is most frequently land (like a google map) or other spaces (a blueprint is a kind of map). It can also be something more abstract, like a system of a way of thinking. The map, as they say, is not the territory; rather, it is an understanding of the territory and a set of priorities for understanding the territory. A map of a city, for instance, can represent roads, walkability, or even emotions. Maps tell us how to understand a territory. As a design tool, a map can be useful for contextualizing a territory in terms of what we are trying to create. Are we making a treasure hunt? Perhaps we should map a neighborhood for sightlines and moments of surprise. Are we making a mapping a sentimental journey for one person? Perhaps we should map that person’s history onto the space.
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