Visualization Atlases: Explaining and Exploring Complex Topics through Data, Visualization, and Narration

TL;DR

This paper defines and analyzes visualization atlases, a new genre of web-based data visualization tools that combine exploration, storytelling, and navigation to explain complex topics like climate change and AI.

Contribution

It provides a formal definition, design patterns, genre classifications, and insights into the creation process of visualization atlases based on systematic analysis and interviews.

Findings

Visualization atlases uniquely combine exploratory visualization, narrative storytelling, and structured navigation.

They target diverse audiences for study, communication, and discovery.

Design patterns and genre classifications inform future development and research.

Abstract

This paper defines, analyzes, and discusses the emerging genre of visualization atlases. We currently witness an increase in web-based, data-driven initiatives that call themselves "atlases" while explaining complex, contemporary issues through data and visualizations: climate change, sustainability, AI, or cultural discoveries. To understand this emerging genre and inform their design, study, and authoring support, we conducted a systematic analysis of 33 visualization atlases and semi-structured interviews with eight visualization atlas creators. Based on our results, we contribute (1) a definition of a visualization atlas as a compendium of (web) pages aimed at explaining and supporting exploration of data about a dedicated topic through data, visualizations and narration. (2) a set of design patterns of 8 design dimensions, (3) insights into the atlas creation from interviews and (4) the definition of 5 visualization atlas genres. We found that visualization atlases are unique in the way they combine i) exploratory visualization, ii) narrative elements from data-driven storytelling and iii) structured navigation mechanisms. They target a wide range of audiences with different levels of domain knowledge, acting as tools for study, communication, and discovery. We conclude with a discussion of current design practices and emerging questions around the ethics and potential real-world impact of visualization atlases, aimed to inform the design and study of visualization atlases.