Schaubilder. Strategies of Visual Efficiency

Whether in user manuals, subway maps or public health graphics, diagrams are a constant presence in our everyday lives. They aim to provide orientation, illustrate data and make complex connections visible in a fast, understandable and objective way. But are they really as neutral as they seem? This research project explores the history of visual systems of order in the United States between 1920 and 1950, a period marked by industrialization, technological innovation and new forms of administration. During this time, numerous standardized graphic formats were developed that continue to shape how we see and structure information today. The focus lies on visual systems designed for efficiency, simplification and universal readability. Infographics, statistical charts and standardized pictograms were intended to make information instantly accessible. But what assumptions shaped these images? And what were their social consequences? The project investigates how such visualizations made certain social groups visible while excluding or marginalizing others. Categories such as gender, disability or social class played a central role. Only bodies that matched certain norms of functionality, rationality or ability were represented. A white, able-bodied man from a Central European or North American background frequently served as the "neutral" reference figure, setting a visual standard for the human form. Other perspectives were rarely included or deliberately omitted. Diagrams are therefore not only practical tools but also cultural constructs. They convey ideas of order and control and often reflect deeper patterns of social exclusion. In light of current technologies such as artificial intelligence and data visualization, the topic has taken on renewed relevance. Image generators and automated decision systems often fall back on standardized templates. In many cases, they reproduce white, male, able-bodied figures as seemingly neutral forms, continuing the legacy of historical reference images. What was once embedded in diagrams now persists in digital systems, often reinforcing social biases without being recognized. This project aims to uncover an overlooked chapter of visual and cultural history and to sharpen our awareness of how visual representations shape our thinking. Understanding how these images work helps us identify their blind spots and rethink how knowledge is visualized today.