Design Judgment in Data Visualization Practice

TL;DR

This paper explores the personal and situated aspects of design judgment in data visualization, highlighting the complex, layered decision-making processes used by practitioners beyond formal knowledge and rational models.

Contribution

It introduces a philosophical framework to analyze the nuanced, practical judgments in data visualization practice, emphasizing the importance of situated knowledge.

Findings

Practitioners use complex, layered judgments in design.

Design decisions are influenced by practical and personal factors.

Further investigation needed into non-rational aspects of visualization design.

Abstract

Data visualization is becoming an increasingly popular field of design practice. Although many studies have highlighted the knowledge required for effective data visualization design, their focus has largely been on formal knowledge and logical decision-making processes that can be abstracted and codified. Less attention has been paid to the more situated and personal ways of knowing that are prevalent in all design activity. In this study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with data visualization practitioners during which they were asked to describe the practical and situated aspects of their design processes. Using a philosophical framework of design judgment from Nelson and Stolterman [23], we analyzed the transcripts to describe the volume and complex layering of design judgments that are used by data visualization practitioners as they describe and interrogate their work. We identify aspects of data visualization practice that require further investigation beyond notions of rational, model- or principle-directed decision-making processes.