Discipline Tree Visualization for the NSFC
Visualizing the Chronological Development and Classification of AI, Computer Science, and Automation
- Project Overview20 Weeks (Oct 2020 - Mar 2021)Collaboration with THUVIS, School of SoftwareStatus: Adopted
- My RoleDesign LeadData Visualization Design
Background
Project Context
The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) initiated a project for various departments at Tsinghua University to visualize their respective disciplinary development. This specific project was a collaboration with the THUVIS group at the School of Software.
The Challenge
The task was to represent the chronological development and classification of over 50 sub-disciplines in computer science within a single, readable A3-sized static infographic.
Design Proposal
To show classification, I used different clusters and colors. To represent chronology, I mapped the evolution of disciplines to the growth of a tree—either bottom-up or center-out—to signify different stages of development. The final visualization design for Computer Science was standardized into an algorithm and reused for the Automation and AI disciplines, and was ultimately adopted by the NSFC.
Final AI Tree: Timeline Version
Final AI Tree: Abstract Time Version (Center-Out Chronology)
Computer Science Tree
Algorithmically Generated Automation Tree
Algorithmically Generated Automation Tree
Iteration Process
Version 1
In this version, each sub-discipline had a defined time point on a bottom-up linear timeline. Colors (blue, green, purple) denoted classifications, with the newest disciplines highlighted in pink. The tree form was aesthetically shaped—taller in the center and shorter on the sides. An animation showed the tree's growth, with the newest branches always appearing at the visual center, maintaining the overall shape.
Animation of Growth Process
Because pink is not commonly used in technical fields, I iterated on the highlighting method, exploring both alternative colors and shapes.
Shape Iterations
Version 2
It became clear that manually tracing the precise origin time for many sub-disciplines was infeasible within the project's tight deadline. Experts were also more interested in the relative chronology of the primary disciplines. This required a new approach.
The second version clustered sub-disciplines and arranged the primary disciplines in a relative chronological order from the center outwards, while maintaining the established tree shape. This placed the oldest, most foundational disciplines in the central, most prominent positions. This design for Computer Science was then standardized into an algorithm and applied to generate the trees for Automation and AI, and was ultimately adopted by the NSFC.
Computer Science Tree
AI Tree
Algorithmically Generated Automation Tree
Algorithmically Generated Automation Tree