Bojic, A (2008). Visualization and Knowledge Creation: An Analysis of Graphic Methods for the Generation of Insights. USI, Lugano.

Table: A summary of the considered seven creativity methods’ main characteristics.

Creativity Thumbnail Graphic Brief Definition Main Benefit of Cognitive Comunicative Collaborative
Methods Representation the Method Dimensions Dimensions Dimensions
Collaborative Dimensions

Mind Map A Mind Map is a hierarchically Particularly Perceived Visual Impact: Modifiability:
organized radial diagram, useful for Finishedness: High Depends on
representing connections between identifying all the Depends on the medium
concepts and subconcepts in a issues and sub- the medium employed
colorful and appealing manner. issues related to a employed
problem or
subject of Facilitating Clarity: Discourse
attention. Insight: High Management:
Several Depends on
insights the medium
employed

Directed Focus: on several items

Idea Map An Idea Map is a multicoloured Beneficial for Perceived Visual Impact: Modifiability:
radial diagram, showing links structuring topics Finishedness: High Depends on
between single items of and subtopics of Depends on the medium
information and categorizing a central domain the medium employed
them hierarchically. of attention. employed

Facilitating Clarity: Discourse

Insight: High Management:
Several Depends on
insights the medium
employed

Directed Focus: on several items

 Perceived Visual Impact: Modifiability:
Morphological A morphological box structures Particularly Finishedness: From Basic Depends on
Box the properties of non-quantifiable powerful in Depends on to Medium the medium
problem complexes incorporating dealing with the medium employed
the parameters relevant for the complex societal employed
solution of a given problem and
complex, as well as those organizational Facilitating Clarity: Discourse
conditions (values) that each problems, it is Insight: High Management:
parameter can assume; it actually beneficial in Many Depends on
represents the basis from which presenting highly Insights the medium
all the possible configurations complex employed
between parameters’ conditions relationships in
can be examined and evaluated the form of clear
(Ritchey, 2002). visual models. Directed Focus: on several items

Dynamic Dynamic Facilitation is a Particularly Perceived Visual Impact: Modifiability:

Facilitation transformational approach to the effective for Finishedness: From Basic Depends on
practice of group facilitation building a sense Depends on to Medium the medium
utilizing a self-organizing process of community, the medium employed
that help groups to reach creative trust and employed
answers to challenging issues commitment, it
(Zubizarreta, 2006). Groups’ results to be a Facilitating Clarity: Discourse
emerging heartfelt contributions powerful method Insight: High Management:
are systematically captured and for conflict Some Depends on
classified in the following lists: resolution. insights the medium
‘Solutions’, ‘Concerns’, ‘Data’ and employed
‘Problems’.
Directed Focus: none
Hexagon Hexagon Modelling consists in Enables to
Modelling capturing on single hexagons express Perceived Visual Impact: Modifiability:
individual ideas in response to a individual mental
Finishedness: High Depends on
focus question, exploring models and at Depends on the medium
alternative hexagons’ groupings, the same time to the medium employed
labeling the generated groups with flexibly
employed
a common associative concept experiment with
and analyzing the restructuring
interconnectedness between them through
Facilitating Clarity: Discourse
cluster labels to establish mutual continuous
Insight: Low Management:
influences. The focus question hexagons’
Several Depends on
can be addressed from one or arrangements
Insights the medium
more points of view, respectively and re- employed
employing one-colour hexagons arrangements
during the whole session or multi- possibility (Idon,
colour hexagons to differentiate 2000).
among different modes of
thinking.

Directed Focus: on one main item

Storyboarding Storyboarding is a hierarchically Particularly Perceived Visual Impact: Modifiability:

organized diagram, representing useful for Finishedness: Medium Depends on
concepts and subconcept in rows identifying all the Depends on the medium
and columns, placing respectively issues and sub- the medium employed
the core issue considered in the issues related to a employed
topic header (blue), the starting problem
subdivisions of the main issue in or subject of
the column headers (orange) and attention. Facilitating Clarity: Discourse
the subtopics of each column Insight: Very High Management:
header under it (yellow). Several Depends on
Insights the medium
employed

Directed Focus: on several items

 Perceived Visual Impact: Modifiability:
Lotus Blossom Lotus Blossom Technique is a It permits a core
Finishedness: Medium Depends on
Technique diagram that – expanding in ever- subject to be Depends on the medium
widening circles – helps comprehensively the medium employed
organizing thinking around explored.
employed
significant themes, each with
separate entry points.
Facilitating Clarity: Discourse
Insight: Quite Low Management:
Many Depends on
Insights the medium
employed

Directed Focus: on several items