Visual Representations for Spatial Thinking

Abstract

Images are signs, which are essential for engineering and all creative disciplines. Our relation to the world is always intermediated by signs. Drawings are used in architecture and other creative disciplines in the design processes to develop and refine ideas and concepts. Finally the results of the design processes are also represented by drawings. Drawings or more general visual representations in its various characteristics have to be understood as elements of a sign system. The foundations of the drawings are the geometrical figures representing the ideas and the geometric projection methods. The role of abstraction for the drawings is expressed by the relationship between ideas and geometric figures. Geometry gives the background for various kinds and levels of abstractions. The most important evaluation criterion for the quality of representations has to be, how the object of planning and designing is represented in its essential aspects. It is necessary to isolate the various aspects and to represent each of them with an appropriate visualization. The possibilities of digital 3D-representations do not change the main characteristics. The 3D-model is also a visual representation with the difference that the recipient is able to see the model from various viewpoints and to produce his/her own images. Understanding the different geometric projection methods for receiving 2D-images of the spatial object is still necessary, even more to control the navigation process in the 3D-model and its parameters. These considerations lead to the following topics essential for the education in graphics: Geometric projection methods with their characteristics behind the various visual representations, visual representations as signs in the communication process with their different requirements and references, backgrounds and methods of a wide range of visual representations, practiced in reasonable application scenarios integrated in study projects. The relationship between spatial thinking and visual representations will be emphasized and the ideas illustrated by some students’ examples.