What is Visualization for Communication? Analyzing Four Years of VisComm Papers

TL;DR

The paper investigates how Visualization for Communication (VisComm) defines and uses visualization across 37 papers from 2018–2022, applying grounded theory to synthesize definitions, themes, and DEI gaps. It categorizes work into Guidelines, New Visualization, Position, and Theory, and identifies recurring tensions between audience-centered goals and coverage of inclusivity. Key findings include a strong emphasis on iterative design and end-user focus, but a surprising lack of concrete DEI guidance across papers. The study provides a structured map of VisComm's landscape and highlights a path toward integrating DEI into visualization-for-communication research.

Abstract

With the introduction of the Visualization for Communication workshop (VisComm) at IEEE VIS and in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been renewed interest in studying visualization as a medium of communication. However the characteristics and definition of this line of study tend to vary from paper to paper and person to person. In this work, we examine the 37 papers accepted to VisComm from 2018 through 2022. Using grounded theory we identify nuances in how VisComm defines visualization, common themes in the work in this area, and a noticeable gap in DEI practices.