Seeing Numbers: Considering the Effect of Presentation of Engineering Data in Design

Computing has made detailed design analysis across all engineering domains types easier to produce, this has as a result generated significantly more design data than before. Similarly, tools like parametric modelling, and BIM have also allowed for differentiated design options to be generated faster and at lower human effort than previous design methods. This is leading to what the authors call "big-design-data"; large amounts of data which rather than being passively collected, have been generated during design and analysis of options. This data suffers from the same issues of data volumes and complex relationships (albeit not as large as classical big-data) and so in need of visualisation and interpretation to allow for meaningful insight which in turn can result in effective decisions. This paper explores the details of the issues and considerations of visualising data for designers and engineers specifically in relation to design decision making; identifying relevant research that supports how one may approach sense making in this big-design-data context.