This dissertation examines how visual representations can communicate complex ideas and produce epistemic value beyond purely verbal explanation. It introduces the concept of Picto-Heuristics to describe visual strategies that make difficult knowledge accessible, understandable, and usable. The study is grounded in philosophical pragmatism, especially Peirce’s semiotics and pragmatic maxim, and argues that the meaning and value of representations become clearest when their practical bearings are considered. It also brings autistic cognition into the discussion, asking whether visual forms of thought and communication may hold particular significance for autistic users.
Methodologically, the dissertation combines theoretical reflection with design-based practice. It examines logic as a case in which abstract symbolic systems still dominate communication, even though visual forms may offer clearer access to inference and structure. A practical design project translates Peirce’s existential graphs into a board game, using this translation to test what visual explanation can do in practice. The dissertation argues that Picto-Heuristics are powerful means of communicating and organizing knowledge.
Supervisor HfK:
Prof. Dr. Annette Geiger
Supervisor Minerva Groningen:
Prof. Dr. Anke Coumans