IEEE VIS 2024 Content: Path-based Design Model for Constructing and Exploring Alternative Visualisations

Path-based Design Model for Constructing and Exploring Alternative Visualisations

James R Jackson - ExaDev, Gaerwen, United Kingdom. Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom

Panagiotis D. Ritsos - Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom

Peter W. S. Butcher - Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom

Jonathan C Roberts - Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom

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Room: Bayshore II

2024-10-17T16:36:00Z GMT-0600 Change your timezone on the schedule page
2024-10-17T16:36:00Z
Exemplar figure, described by caption below
We present a path-based design model and system for designing and creating visualisations. The image shows the Genii visualisation designer tool which demonstrates our flowpath model. Individuals define their own path or choose predefined flowpaths (left panel), drag and drop the visualisation properties into the gene panel (middle), which are rendered onto the gallery (right). Users can either create a new gene which adds a new image to the gallery or edit parameters (through drag and drop) to adapt current visualisations. Crafted visualisations can be exported and used in other applications.
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Keywords

Path-based design, Visualisation Design, Alternative Visualisations

Abstract

We present a path-based design model and system for designing and creating visualisations. Our model represents a systematic approach to constructing visual representations of data or concepts following a predefined sequence of steps. The initial step involves outlining the overall appearance of the visualisation by creating a skeleton structure, referred to as a flowpath. Subsequently, we specify objects, visual marks, properties, and appearance, storing them in a gene. Lastly, we map data onto the flowpath, ensuring suitable morphisms. Alternative designs are created by exchanging values in the gene. For example, designs that share similar traits, are created by making small incremental changes to the gene. Our design methodology fosters the generation of diverse creative concepts, space-filling visualisations, and traditional formats like bar charts, circular plots and pie charts. Through our implementation we showcase the model in action. As an example application, we integrate the output visualisations onto a smartwatch and visualisation dashboards. In this article we (1) introduce, define and explain the path model and discuss possibilities for its use, (2) present our implementation, results, and evaluation, and (3) demonstrate and evaluate an application of its use on a mobile watch.