Data-First Visualization Design Studies

TL;DR

This paper introduces a data-first approach to visualization design studies, emphasizing real-world data acquisition as the starting point, and adapts existing methodology to support this process.

Contribution

It proposes a new data-first design study framework and provides guidance for its application and transferability in visualization research.

Findings

Analysis of 64 design studies revealing 16 as potential data-first cases.

Discussion of opportunities and risks associated with data-first design.

Reflection on two own data-first design studies.

Abstract

We introduce the notion of a data-first design study which is triggered by the acquisition of real-world data instead of specific stakeholder analysis questions. We propose an adaptation of the design study methodology framework to provide practical guidance and to aid transferability to other data-first design processes. We discuss opportunities and risks by reflecting on two of our own data-first design studies. We review 64 previous design studies and identify 16 of them as edge cases with characteristics that may indicate a data-first design process in action.