why dots

A question I get a lot is- why dots? At first the question was tough for me to answer, but after a little introspection I came to a simple conclusion: a dot is such a basic representation that it can be anything.

Dots can be part of larger organizations, or they can go off on their own. Like you and me they have to climb social, political and workforce ladders. And like in the real world, when a dot at the top is angry the news rolls down hill. There are even some dots that you wouldn't want to see when they get angry.

While I think the simple explanation that a dot can be anything is good, I think there is a deeper and better reason.

It was put most elegantly in one of my favorite books, Understanding Comics, Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art, by Scott McCloud. Scott states "that by de-emphasizing the appearance of the physical world in favor of the idea of form, the cartoon (or in this instance the dot) places itself in the world of concepts." A good expalanation of this statement is found by looking at this set of images (see video above). In this context, all of the images are representations of me. As you progress from left to right the representations get less and less detailed until eventually I am represented by a dot. My picture is the most physical representation of me and the dot is the most conceptual.

While both represent me; they are not equal substitutes for building models, and it is this difference that explains why dots are the best tools for modeling. Imagine if I tried to model a hierarchical organization using my picture to represent each position. First this would be one scary organization and second it is difficult for someone besides me to identify with.

Moving towards a more conceptual representation makes it easier for some people to identify and possibly see themselves somewhere in this organization. This representation also makes it more difficult to judge race, gender, ethnicity, and form prejudices about the individuals.

Yet if we move to a representation of dots, it becomes almost impossible to form any prejudices against the dots; you can only judge that they are round and grey and that there are some dots lower in the organization than others. This is what explains why dots are the perfect way to model complex problems, ideas, and solutions. Because if you can't judge the dot as something that is different from you, it makes it that much easier for you to see yourself, your boss, your employee, your car, your autocompany, your president, your family, your organization, your country in the same situation as the dot or dots; which means the model will be easier for you to understand and apply to your life. This is why I use mondaydots and why I think you should too. Thank you for watching

Comments

[Forrest]

I'm from China where Youtube is blocked. I'm interested in your dots idea but am sad that I can't see your video.

Have you uploaded your words any place else? or could you please send it to me via email? thank you.

[Forrest]

words → works
I'm sorry for my misspelling.

[Lee LeFever]

Hi Jeff!
Congrats on MondayDots and being a part of the explanatory video world. I learned about you via Explainist.com and watched the Gen. Patraeus video. Very nice work.

We come from similar perspectives - I too read Understanding Comics and took a lot from the idea that the less something looks like a specific person, the more the viewer can see themselves. That's why our figures don't usually have facial features.

Anyway, I've subscribed to your blog here. Best of luck with the new site!

[Steve Marshall]

Hello Jeff,

I love the idea of representing complexity with dots. The video is superb and I wish you all the best with this offering. I'm intrigued by the ease with which we see ourselves in dots. I use a different medium to disrupt our self-image by developing improvised digital portraits - the clients shoots a picture - I change it - we shoot another. I'm wondering how or if the two (dots and digital images) processes can converge and what the visual facilitation output might be? In the meanwhile I'd like to show your work on my blog and will link to your site. I've also subscribed to your feed.

Good luck!

Steve

[darkfall gold]

I'm from China where Youtube is blocked. I'm interested in your dots idea but am sad that I can't see your video.

[jeff monday]

No problem! The videos are posted on vimeo as well:

http://www.vimeo.com/jeffmonday

[aion kinah for sale]

I use a different medium to disrupt our self-image by developing improvised digital portraits - the clients shoots a picture - I change it - we shoot another. I'm wondering how or if the two (dots and digital images) processes can converge and what the visual facilitation output might be?

[jeff monday]

Aion I would be interested in talking to you more about your process and possibly doing a collaboration. Let me know what you think!

[Ivan Walsh]

Hi Jeff,
I like this presentation and there are some nice ideas in here for sure.

When you says ‘dots’, does you mean any generic placeholder?

For example, could it be a square?

Here’s what I'm getting at. The limitation of dots is that they are neutral – paradoxically also their strength.
If we’re looking at a visual way to representing information would not mathematical figures be more appropriate. For example, a maths symbol could represent several attributes at the same time, i.e. age, role, gender etc without identifying the person.

eg could dots evolve into symbols?

Just trying to see where/how to take this idea.

Any thoughts?

[jeff monday]

Ivan,

Thanks for your comment. The goal in using dots is to remove any prejudice you can form about the dots in order to better illustrate the concept and put the audience member in the position of the dots.

To the degree that you move to a more physical representation (e.g. using symbols) you begin to draw prejudices against the symbols.

What are your preconceived notions about gender, age, employees, and employers? Are you aware of any? Can you know for sure that you what your audiences preconceived notions are?

While you can use any symbol to animate your story or concept in the Keynote application....I will continue to use dots.

-jeff

P.S. You could use squares to get the same effect, but I personally think they are an inferior shape. =)