ABSTRACT
Designers are required to produce 2-dimensional representations of objects in both design and production phases. To create right 2-dimensional representations, designers mostly relies on their ability to create visual mental images of these objects. Constructing a right visual mental image is important for visualization process, as designers can work on these images and reason visual transformations. The ability of generating accurate mental images is not strong in design students as they lack of necessary knowledge and experience. In visualization courses, students are exposed to the employment of this ability by their instructors. This paper discusses the tacit characteristics of the utilization process of visual mental imagery in a visualization course. The tactics that experienced designers and educators use for demonstrating students the ways of constructing detailed and accurate visual mental images are also explored through the study.
