080 Layering
Presenting information in stacked layers to manage complexity and foster insights.
• Layering is revealing and concealing planes of information, one on top of the other, to recontextualize information and highlight relationships.
• Opaque layers are useful when additional information about a particular item is desired without switching contexts (e.g., software pop-up help).
• Transparent layers are useful when overlays of information combine to illustrate concepts or highlight relationships (e.g., weather maps).
• Consider layering to manage complexity, elaborate information, and illustrate concepts without switching contexts. Use opaque layers when presenting elaborative information. Use transparent layers when illustrating concepts or highlighting relationships.
See Also Hierarchy • Modularity • Progressive Disclosure
