Visual Interaction Design: Time to Go

Maria G. Wadlow

Se n'g nama sci, sciamanin,
Se non n'g nama sci, non gene sim scenn.

Italian saying

Time is precious. Time is all we have. Time is passing. There is a time for all things, a time to see, a time to do, a time to teach. And there is also a time to go.

I have been editing the Visual Interaction Design Special Interest Area (VID SIA) column for the SIGCHI Bulletin since the column's inception four years ago, when the VID SIA group came into existence. We organized the VID SIA group because we felt that the specialized interests of visual designers seem to fall slightly outside of the mainstream of SIGCHI. I created the column because I felt it would be an excellent forum for discussing topics of interest to visual interaction designers and it could act as a point of contact for other SIGCHI members who are interested in visual interaction design.

Quoting from my own article in the very first VID SIA column (Wadlow, 1993a):

The name, Visual Interaction Design, was chosen because it represents the dual emphasis of our work, the visual aspects of interaction in interface design. We see ourselves as bridging the gap between graphic design and interface design. Visual interaction design differs from traditional graphic design in that it goes beyond visual communication to include interaction. And it differs from traditional interface design because the emphasis is on the visual aspects of the interface.
...
We view interface design as an interdisciplinary process in which visual interaction is an integral component. Our intent is to explore the role of visual designers in a design team and to educate others on our contributions to the design process. We feel that as a community we can effect changes within SIGCHI to recognize the contributions of visual designers to the field and to support the work of visual designers in conferences and publications.

Since that first article, I have written about a variety of topics, from kindergarten (Wadlow, 1993b) to movie production (Wadlow, 1994), from dry cleaning receipts (Wadlow, 1996) to feng shui (Wadlow, 1995), all in an effort to explore different perspectives on interface design and visual interaction. In return, I have received a tremendous amount of feedback from people who have read my articles. Their letters have given me a new outlook on my work and on the VID SIA column.

Thanks to everyone who has written to me with comments and suggestions for the column. It is gratifying to know that other people are thinking about the same ideas and wondering about the same issues and trying to solve the same problems. I am pleased to think that my writing may have influenced your perspective and I want you to know that, by writing to me, you have influenced mine. Thank you.

Thanks also to the writers who have contributed articles to this column during the past four years: Andy Cargile, Loretta Staples, Cleotilde Gonzalez, Tiziana Catarci, Maria F. Costabile, Maristella Matera, Peter Vanags, Brad Weed, and Suzanne Watzman. The VID SIA column was designed to be a forum for all visual interaction designers. Thank you for sharing your ideas with us.

Thanks to Bill Hefley, former editor of the SIGCHI Bulletin, who encouraged me to start the VID SIA column, and to Steven Pemberton, the SIGCHI Bulletin's current editor, whose continued encouragement has kept me going.

To quote my first article again:

The goal of this column is two-fold: to inform the CHI community about happenings within the field of visual interaction design; and to explore particular issues of relevance to the visual interaction design field via contributed articles by members of the community.

I believe that, together, over the past four years, we have fulfilled these goals. Now it's time to take the next step.

I am pleased to introduce to you the new editors of the Visual Interaction Design column: Frank M. Marchak and Shannon Ford. Frank and Shannon are very enthusiastic about the column and are full of terrific ideas for future articles. I am looking forward to seeing where the column takes them. Thanks Frank and Shannon for volunteering to continue the journey.

Finally, thanks to all of you for passing time with me.

I'd like some time please, and could I get that to go?

References

Wadlow, M.G. (1993a): An Introduction. SIGCHI Bulletin, 25(1), 52-53, January 1993.
Wadlow, M.G. (1993b): Interdisciplinary Design. SIGCHI Bulletin, 25(3), 71-74, July 1993.
Wadlow, M.G. (1994): The Zen of Interface Design. SIGCHI Bulletin, 26(2), 16-17, April 1994.
Wadlow, M.G. (1995): The Importance of Details. SIGCHI Bulletin, 27(3), 10-11, July 1995.
Wadlow, M.G. (1996): Rites of Passage. SIGCHI Bulletin, 28(1), 32-33, January 1996.

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Vol.28 No.4, October 1996
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