Hero Image: Global View
Problem & Opportunity
In complex design systems, understanding dependencies is crucial but often obscured by messy documentation. This project explores how we can transform unstructured text into clear, visual graphs to reveal hidden connections.
Initial sketches of dependency chaos
Approach
The concept emerged from observing designers struggle with “dependency hell” in large projects. I began by sketching metaphors of networks and flow, looking for ways to make abstract relationships tangible.
I framed the problem as an translation challenge: converting linear, ambiguous text into spatial, deterministic nodes. This required a strict ontology for what constitutes a “dependency.”
Ontology mapping diagram
Implementation
The system is built using a combination of NLP parsing and force-directed graph rendering. The core engine analyzes text for causal keywords (“depends on”, “requires”, “blocks”) and constructs an adjacency matrix.
Interaction Model/UX
Users simply paste their documentation. The tool instantly visualizes the graph. Interactive nodes allow for filtering and “what-if” analysis, showing the ripple effects of potential changes.
Interactive graph interface
Outcome
The output is a live, navigable map of the project’s logic. It highlights critical paths, circular dependencies, and orphaned requirements, giving teams immediate actionable insights.