Understanding Visualization Design Ideation Using Examples

It is often said that no idea is original and this rings true in visualization design. Most people rarely start creating visualizations from scratch. Instead, they build on ideas gotten from existing designs, drawing inspiration from examples they find online or have seen in the past.

While examples are an important part of the creative process, we have very little insight on the impact examples have on the visualization design process and how we can support the example-related needs of visualization designers. My research uses a combination of methodology from psychology and design literature to improve our collective understanding of the practices and mental models behind the identification and use of examples as a source of inspiration for visualization design.

In ongoing research, I explore quantitative and qualitative ways to measure the factors that modulate the influence examples have on the visualization designs. Our results will be influencial at supporting the refinement of current visualization authoring and generation tools to support example-aided design.

---

Publications

Unveiling How Examples Shape Visualization Design Outcomes

Understanding how Designers Find and Use Data Visualization Examples