Cladograms as Visualization Tools for Iterative Design Research and Communication

A cladogram as a diagrammatic and analytical framework has not been used often in design. It is a diagram constructed by a series of branching lines, typically used in biological classification to show relationships between and among organisms (Brower, 2016). This article proposes a new framework and visualization method for design and research that combines the organizational and representational logic of a traditional cladogram with landscape architectural research methods Cataloging, Typology, and Taxonomy. Three case studies demonstrate the potential of utilizing cladograms in design by exploring multiple dimensions, uses, and applications (Swaffield, 2017). The first case study employs a design cladogram as a tool to facilitate design decision-making by non-designers and communicate complex design information. The second case study, a set of catalogs on land-based infrastructures, aims to collect, organize, analyze, and visualize interdisciplinary research within a single drawing. The third demonstrates a student’s use of a design cladogram to engage in an iterative and nonlinear design process and connect site research to speculative design proposals in one drawing. These distinct case studies provide a way to generalize, compare, and extract principles, lessons, or patterns (Francis, 2001; Swaffield, 2017), with the goal of inspiring additional applications of design cladograms. Further adaptation in research and practice can open new possibilities for connecting design research and interventions, communicating complex information to diverse audiences, and engaging others in an iterative design process to envision new solutions.