Visual diary (a.k.a. visual journal) is a method in which a constant, regular, and self-determined creative activity is proposed for the daily life of its bearer. The activity may include recording ideas, creating concepts, taking notes, or playing. The main difference to a personal diary is that here, the owner doesn’t just record what has happened but also what could happen in the future or alternative presents/pasts, mainly through imagination.
In design research, a visual diary documents a design research journey using visual thinking. The diary may include sketches, diagrams, mind maps, scraps, and other visual methods representing evolving ideas, reflections, and learning processes. The diary affords diverse media, from sketches and diagrams to mind maps and written reflections. It supports creativity and flexibility, urging design researchers to experiment with different materials, colors, and forms of expression.
The visual diary is more than just a collection of images or sketches; it is a dynamic tool for expanding personal and collective knowledge through visual thinking. It enables design researchers to explore contradictions within the design process, turning these into opportunities for innovation. The diary allows for articulating complex ideas in a non-linear, reflective manner, capturing moments of insight and transformation.
When visual thinking becomes expansive, the diary identifies and visually represents contradictions encountered in the design process. It serves as a space where these contradictions can be explored and re-codified into new insights. To get to that level of depth, the diary must be an integral part of their design research process, not just as a final product but as a living, evolving resource.
One particular contradiction stands out in visual diaries: existential crises. By documenting and reflecting on them visually and regularly, design researchers can trace their social origins and envision ways of better dealing with them. In a way, visual diaries can be therapeutic for oppressed design researchers.
