Purchase - Twelve years of diagrams research - A literature review

Oct 26, 2026

Research into the use of diagrams is an interdisciplinary endeavour spanning psychology, architecture and artificial intelligence, and has developed since early workshops in 1997. This paper reviews diagrams research across twelve years, drawn from the International Conference on the Theory and Application of Diagrams proceedings. It proposes a taxonomy of the scope of diagrams research, identifies the research issues addressed, and discusses the role of layout and aesthetics. It concludes by highlighting trends and under-represented areas, and supports ongoing discussion on evolving directions in the field.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages19

Reading Time48 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Diagrams as information communication

Origins of diagrams research forums

Thinking with Diagrams workshops

Related conferences and special issues

Conclusions and ongoing discussion

Journal of Visual Languages and Computing 25 (2014) 57–75 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Visual Languages and Computing journal [homepage:](homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jvlc)[ www.elsevier.com/locate/jvlc](homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jvlc) | Twelve years of diagrams research $
Helen C. Purchase
School of Computing Science, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | a r t i c l e i n f o | | a b s t r a c t | | | Available online 8 December 2013 | | Research into the use of diagrams is an interdisciplinary endeavour, encompassing disciplines as diverse as psychology, architecture and artificial intelligence. It is also a relatively new research area, with the first meeting of like-minded researchers interested in studying diagrams taking place in 1997. Now that diagrams research is more established, it is timely to review its scope, nature and progress. This paper reviews diagrams research over the past twelve years, as represented in the proceedings of the International Conference on the Theory and Application of Diagrams. In summarising the contents of these proceedings, a taxonomy describing the scope of diagrams research is proposed, the several research issues covered are identified, and the extent to which layout and aesthetics form part of this body of research is discussed. In concluding, trends and under-represented areas are noted and discussed. The aim of the paper is not only to summarise the research covered in this particular conference, but to provide a basis for on-going discussion on the changing nature of diagrams research.
& 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | | | Keywords:
Diagrams research
Diagrams classifications Interdisciplinary research Literature survey | | | | 1. Introduction Diagrams are ubiquitous, and, as a means of communicating information, can be found in all areas of research and practise. Leveraging off the power of the visual processing system (our primary means of perception), they provide a flexible means for representing information in an engaging and direct manner. Diagrams are, however, useless if not effectively communicated and understood – and fully understanding this comprehension process requires knowledge from a wide range of disciplines, including psychology, social science, applied linguistics, education, and communicative technologies. Bringing these areas together in an interdisciplinary forum enables diagrams themselves to be the focus of research endeavour. The specific area of diagrams research may be said to have been launched by the publication of Larkin and Simon's [1] seminal 1987 Cognitive Science paper “Why a Diagram is (Sometimes) Worth Ten Thousand Words”. This paper references no prior work specifically relating to ☆ This paper has been recommended for acceptance by S.-K. Chang. E-mail address: [helen.purchase@glasgow.ac.uk](helen.purchase@glasgow.ac.uk) diagrams research, although, as befitting a cognitive science article, it refers to several papers on cognitive models and 'mental imagery'. Prior to 1997, there was no specific forum for the interdisciplinary study of diagrams. The first Thinking with Diagrams workshop was held in Portsmouth in January 1997, with its discussion papers collated as a Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Science Unit publication. An extract from the introduction to this document reads [2]: There is increasing understanding of the benefits of diagrammatic representations for reducing cognitive load, enabling different styles of problem solving and exploiting perceptual judgement skills. It is important that this evidence be applied to both technology and general education, but there is surprising ignorance about the function of diagrams. New graphical representations and educational approaches are still being devised on a purely intuitive basis, and this brings some urgency to the need for

FAQs

What is the primary focus of the paper on diagrams research?

The paper reviews diagrams research over the past twelve years using the proceedings of an international conference and supports ongoing discussion about how the field is changing.

How does the paper characterize diagrams research as an area of study?

Diagrams research is described as interdisciplinary, drawing on disciplines such as psychology, architecture, and artificial intelligence, and connecting these areas through a forum centered on diagrams as the core phenomenon.

What outcomes does the paper provide from reviewing the proceedings?

It proposes a taxonomy for the scope of diagrams research, identifies key research issues covered, discusses how layout and aesthetics relate to the field, and notes trends and under-represented areas.

Oct 26, 2026

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