Can you tell me how the almighty rule of “a cluster of three” came to be? I watch many design shows and they all preach this.
– Design show junkie
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Dear Junkie,
It should come as no surprise that cluster analysis is the scientific tool aimed at studying and grouping objects in such a way that the associations between those objects is maximized. More disciplined than heuristics, the aforementioned analysis employs a variety of algorithms with the goal of defining probable clusters according to pre-determined rules of similarities based on single or multiple dimensions. Computationally, the Euclidean distance between clustered objects is based on the geometric distance in multidimensional space, or distance(x,y) = {i (xi – yi)2 }½ – the preferred outcome being one that minimizes the variability within groupings while maximizing the variability between the grouping and other. This equation determines the overall stability and logic behind the respective cluster of three.
Plus it just looks cool that way.
http://www.statsoft.com/textbook/stcluan.html
design show junkie says
April 6, 2006 at 10:27 amI had heard that it came from Custer’s Cluster. The general, his horse and his ipod. I mighta known this was too simple.
design show junkie