Visual Variation: A Versatile Knowledge Visualization Method Based on Variation Theory

The aim of this paper is to introduce a set of five versatile graphic representation formats called visual variations that allow anyone to represent qualitative insights systematically, concisely and in an expansive way. This “bar chart for knowledge” is based on Marton's seminal variation theory to improve learning and comprehension and makes its mechanisms actionable within the realm of a simple graphic notation consisting of five visual patterns: 1. The ‘Approaches’ pattern to visualize different fitting and problematic solutions to a problem. 2. The concise and expansive ‘Scenarios’ pattern to visualize possible futures. 3. The chronological ‘Segments’ pattern to visualize processes and events. 4. The powerful ‘Configurations’ pattern to depict solution architectures. 5. The memorable “Mutations” pattern based on visual metaphors to represent classifications. These patterns follow the principle that you only understand something if you understand it in more than one way. The paper describes the method's key idea, background, application areas, and evaluation results, as well as numerous examples from the realm of technology, business, and psychology. It concludes by pointing out future development directions for the visual variation methodology.