Crossing the Chasm: Bridging Visual Augmentations and Designer Intent

Area of Science:

• Information Visualization
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Visualization designers use augmentations (e.g., annotations, animations) to guide attention and communicate context.
• Existing graphical perception principles offer limited guidance for higher-level communication goals served by these augmentations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To bridge the gap between low-level graphical perception and higher-level communication goals in data visualization.
• To introduce a design space that frames designer intent through viewer-oriented cognitive behaviors.
• To ground communicative aims in actionable visualization design techniques, including visual encodings and augmentations.

Main Methods:

• Developed a design space that categorizes augmentation tactics (e.g., annotation, animation, stylized encodings).
• Organized tactics by design strategies (e.g., spotlighting, sequencing, association).
• Linked strategies to higher-level design goals (e.g., observe, interpret, introspect).

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the analytic and generative value of the design space across diverse designer objectives.
• Provided examples illustrating the application of the design space.
• Showcased how the design space aligns designer intent with reader takeaways.

Conclusions:

• The proposed design space effectively aligns designer intent with reader takeaways for improved learning.
• Facilitates more effective learning experiences for visualization readers.
• Enables future development of automated systems to assist visualization designers in achieving communication goals.