Delivering a Unified Design Model (UDM) - To Align Design to the Way the Human Brain Processes Visual Information

17 Pages Posted: 25 Mar 2020

See all articles by Bruce Hilliard

Bruce Hilliard

Murdoch University

Jocelyn Armarego

Murdoch University

Andrew Turk

Murdoch University

Tanya McGill

Murdoch University

Date Written: July 19, 2017

Abstract

Presentation tools like PowerPoint are used extensively (Park & Feigenson, 2013), but they are regularly criticised because poor application obfuscates the message (Schoeneborn, 2013). The project introduced in this paper focussed on developing a Unified Design Model (UDM) and an integrated set of research-based design principles, which would help users overcome identified weaknesses in the use of presentation aids. As a bi-product of the research, this project also addressed issues related to other computer-based visualisations. The first step taken to achieve this objective was to review research in neuroscience, biopsychology, and cognitive science. Collected information was used to develop an integrated understanding of the way the human brain processes information, and particularly visual content. This knowledge was then integrated with guidance and results from psychophysics and design related publications, to create a set of draft principles that holistically covered the key aspects of visual design. In all, the information from 1640 publications was used to develop these draft design principles. The validity of these draft principles was tested through an experimental program, which is explained in the PhD thesis at Hilliard (2016). In the interests of brevity, this paper only introduces the UDM framework. However, even this short introduction to the UDM gives important insights into the design of presentations, and other forms of computer-based visualisations, including web pages and e-learning material.

Keywords: Learning design, Psychophysics, Cognitive Science, Presentation aids, Web design

JEL Classification: M10, M12, I21

Suggested Citation

Hilliard, Bruce and Armarego, Jocelyn and Turk, Andrew and McGill, Tanya, Delivering a Unified Design Model (UDM) - To Align Design to the Way the Human Brain Processes Visual Information (July 19, 2017). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3005078 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3005078

Bruce Hilliard (Contact Author)

Murdoch University ( email )

South Street
Murdoch 6150, Western Australia 6105
Australia

Jocelyn Armarego

Murdoch University

South Street
Murdoch 6150, Western Australia 6105
Australia

Andrew Turk

Murdoch University

South Street
Murdoch 6150, Western Australia 6105
Australia

Tanya McGill

Murdoch University

South Street
Murdoch 6150, Western Australia 6105
Australia

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