Expressive Visualization Tools for
Data-Driven Storytelling


Matthew Brehmer | mattbrehmer.github.io | @mattbrehmer


In collaboration w/ Bongshin Lee, Nathalie Henry Riche,

The EPIC Group @ Microsoft Research, interns, academic colleagues

Presentation at ASA SDSS 2019-05-30 · slides: mattbrehmer.github.io / talks / sdss190530

Interactive & Expressive Visualization Tools


ChartAccent (2016) | Timeline Storyteller (2017)
Charticulator (2018) | DataToon (2019)

Our Expressive Visualization Tools for Storytelling


· Not intended for exploratory data analysis

· Authoring, not design

· Correctly formatted, clean data

· Interactive browser-based tools: no programming required

· Anticipating alternative export and re-use scenarios


· Available to the public, free, open-source*

*DataToon public / open-source release is forthcoming.

Considerations for Storytelling with Visualization


· Fine control over visual encoding choices

· Informative annotations and captions

· Selective emphasis and highlighting

· Sequential reveal of information over time and space

Interactive & Expressive Visualization Tools


ChartAccent (2016) | Timeline Storyteller (2017)
Charticulator (2018) | DataToon (2019)
ChartAccent: Annotation for Data-Driven Storytelling.
Ren, Brehmer, Lee, Höllerer, and Choe.
In Proceedings of the 2017 IEEE PacificVis Symposium.

chartaccent.github.io | github.com/chartaccent
“the annotation layer is the
most important thing we do...
otherwise it’s a case of here it is,
you go figure it out."
- Amanda Cox,
New York Times Data Editor

Annotating Points and Values

Annotating Ranges

Annotating Sets and Other Annotations

chartaccent.github.io | github.com/chartaccent Also available as custom visuals for Power BI.

Interactive & Expressive Visualization Tools


ChartAccent (2016) | Timeline Storyteller (2017)
Charticulator (2018) | DataToon (2019)
Timeline Storyteller: The Design & Deployment of an Interactive Authoring Tool for Expressive Timeline Narratives.
Brehmer, Lee, Henry Riche, Tittsworth, Lytvynets, Edge, and White.
In Proceedings of the 2019 Computation + Journalism Symposium.


timelinestoryteller.com | github.com/Microsoft/timelinestoryteller

The Daily Routines of Famous Creative People

Story inspired by infographics by Podio and info we trust (RJ Andrews).
Data source: Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey (2013)
Timelines Revisited:
A Design Space & Considerations for Expressive Storytelling
.
Brehmer, Lee, Bach, Henry Riche, and Munzner.
In IEEE Trans. Visualization & Computer Graphics, 2017.


Timelines are visual representations of categorical event sequences.

How have people drawn timelines over the course of history?


... A survey of 250+ timelines and timeline tools.


timelinesrevisited.github.io
Timelines Revisited:
A Design Space & Considerations for Expressive Storytelling
.
Brehmer, Lee, Bach, Henry Riche, and Munzner.
In IEEE Trans. Visualization & Computer Graphics, 2017.

Representation
Linear Radial Spiral Calendar Curve
Scale
Chronological Relative Logarithmic Sequential Collapsed
Layout
Unified Faceted Segmented
Different combinations of representation, scale, & layout
serve different communicative goals.

Anticipate chronological or non-chronological narratives.

Incrementally reveal, selectively highlight & annotate to direct attention.

timelinestoryteller.com | interactive tool for the browser or Power BI

github.com/Microsoft/timelinestoryteller | open source

openvisconf.com/2017 | What Story Does Your Timeline Tell?

Interactive & Expressive Visualization Tools


ChartAccent (2016) | Timeline Storyteller (2017)
Charticulator (2018) | DataToon (2019)
Charticulator: Interactive Construction of Bespoke Chart Layouts.
Ren, Lee, and Brehmer.
In IEEE Trans. Visualization & Computer Graphics, 2019.

Honorable Mention for Best Paper at IEEE InfoVis 2018.

Shortlisted for the 2018 Kantar Information is Beautiful Awards.

charticulator.com | github.com/Microsoft/Charticulator
charticulator.com | github.com/Microsoft/Charticulator

Interactive & Expressive Visualization Tools


ChartAccent (2016) | Timeline Storyteller (2017)
Charticulator (2018) | DataToon (2019)
DataToon:
Drawing Dynamic Network Comics With Pen + Touch Interaction
.
Kim, Riche, Bach, Xu, Brehmer, Hinckley, Pahud, Xia, McGuffin, & Pfister.
In Proceedings of the 2019 ACM CHI Conference.

aka.ms/DataToon
aka.ms/DataToon
Reflecting on the Evaluation of Visualization Authoring Systems.
Ren, Lee, Brehmer, & Henry Riche.
In Proceedings of the 2018 BELIV Workshop (Evaluation & Beyond).

Typical evaluation metrics (time, error) are not very relevant.

Post-deployment content analysis and chart reproduction studies.

aka.ms/renbeliv18

Closing Thoughts / Looking to the Future


· What does expressivity mean? How do we achieve it?

· Maximize expressivity without programming / mouse + keyboard?

· Visualization authoring for consumption beyond the desktop

· Beyond authoring: supporting design, exploration, data prep

Expressive Visualization Tools for
Data-Driven Storytelling


Matthew Brehmer | mattbrehmer.github.io | @mattbrehmer


In collaboration w/ Bongshin Lee, Nathalie Henry Riche,

The EPIC Group @ Microsoft Research, interns, academic colleagues

mattbrehmer.github.io / talks / sdss190530 | slides
Presentation at ASA SDSS 2019-05-30