An apparatus for implementation of a system for visualization and analysis of interested elements of a complex system, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to at least: receive and process: data for a physical instance of a complex system composed of a plurality of elements, the data being received and processed to identify a predefined maintenance message for the complex system, wherein the maintenance message identifies an element-level failure and one or more effects of the element-level failure, wherein each of said effects manifests itself as a failure which is identified by a maintenance message, a diagnostic procedure defined for and associated with the maintenance message, the diagnostic procedure involving or implicating a plurality of interested elements of the plurality of elements, wherein the diagnostic procedure is performed to address failures in the complex system, said diagnostic procedure includes actions involving user interaction with one or more elements of the complex system, wherein said elements are identified as interested elements and include a failed element or one or more elements that are checked to identify the failed element; and design data including data that describe the complex system and its elements, and data describing logical connections between elements; determine connections between the plurality of interested elements involved in the diagnostic procedure; generate a visual presentation of at least a portion of the complex system, the visual presentation being digital media and depicting the plurality of interested elements and one or more other elements of the plurality of elements; and apply a visual effect to the plurality of interested elements depicted by the visual presentation to distinguish the plurality of interested elements from the one or more other elements depicted by the visual presentation. receive and process: data for a physical instance of a complex system composed of a plurality of elements, the data being received and processed to identify a predefined maintenance message for the complex system, wherein the maintenance message identifies an element-level failure and one or more effects of the element-level failure, wherein each of said effects manifests itself as a failure which is identified by a maintenance message, a diagnostic procedure defined for and associated with the maintenance message, the diagnostic procedure involving or implicating a plurality of interested elements of the plurality of elements, wherein the diagnostic procedure is performed to address failures in the complex system, said diagnostic procedure includes actions involving user interaction with one or more elements of the complex system, wherein said elements are identified as interested elements and include a failed element or one or more elements that are checked to identify the failed element; and design data including data that describe the complex system and its elements, and data describing logical connections between elements; data for a physical instance of a complex system composed of a plurality of elements, the data being received and processed to identify a predefined maintenance message for the complex system, wherein the maintenance message identifies an element-level failure and one or more effects of the element-level failure, wherein each of said effects manifests itself as a failure which is identified by a maintenance message, a diagnostic procedure defined for and associated with the maintenance message, the diagnostic procedure involving or implicating a plurality of interested elements of the plurality of elements, wherein the diagnostic procedure is performed to address failures in the complex system, said diagnostic procedure includes actions involving user interaction with one or more elements of the complex system, wherein said elements are identified as interested elements and include a failed element or one or more elements that are checked to identify the failed element; and design data including data that describe the complex system and its elements, and data describing logical connections between elements; determine connections between the plurality of interested elements involved in the diagnostic procedure; generate a visual presentation of at least a portion of the complex system, the visual presentation being digital media and depicting the plurality of interested elements and one or more other elements of the plurality of elements; and apply a visual effect to the plurality of interested elements depicted by the visual presentation to distinguish the plurality of interested elements from the one or more other elements depicted by the visual presentation.