For my decision map project, I used to topic of buying a desktop computer. Instead of a point to point question based map, I used a subtler method and lead the reader through the different parts of a computer where they can match up their needs or wants and use these considerations to decide what to buy. I do this because there are so many different brands and products in the computer world and there can be no ONE absolute perfect product to meet the answers of their questions; they must choose pieces as they go.

As you can see stage 1 above, this graph started out over-simplified. I knew I would need to expand a great deal so I decided this would be published online, allowing me to resize it as much as I need as well as being accessible to people interested in the topic. I split the graph into four phases: brand, hardware, replacement parts, and peripherals. Under these categories are all the factors involved. To simplify the hardware/ pre-made desktop portion, I added in quotes that suggest what the reader my feel when buying a desktop. These serve as my “questions” for this part but as you go, the chart is simplified to just options to make it cleaner for the easier choices (peripherals/ replacements).

For the second stage, I had phases going down but also laid out side by side within themselves. This was to make the entire thing readable as you went but laying each phase out at once was overwhelming. For the final stage I laid everything out in a 1 by 1 order, descending constantly to get to the next option. This eases the flow of the chart so the reader can match one item and be done, able to continue without backtracking to get to another option.

Tuan suggested I add more icons instead of text for every option but I feel this would be misinterpreted. The chart would go from a decision to a picture book. I just feel without the context that text can bring, the map loses it’s purpose as a tool to make a serious decision.

Revisiting Note: Looking at this now a full semester later, I see what the intended was. I never fully grasped it at the time but I think if I scrapped my designs, I could choose a new easier topic and make a fun decision chart like Tuan expected. Still, my chart serves its purpose well enough.

Stage 1:

Stage 2: Horizontal and branching exploration

Stage 3: Final