Visualizing data visualization: a systematic literature mapping by Brazilian design researchers

Abstract

This paper integrates and expands reflections in the academic Brazilian literature on data visualization from a design perspective between the years 2010 and 2020. It is based on a systematic literature mapping method of 42 articles. The results show the institutions affiliation of researchers and their geographical distribution; the evolution over the years of publications; the methodological approaches and authors cited; the types of studies; and the visualization artifact generated and the design tools employed in this process. Specifically, the results show that The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) is the institution with the highest concentration of papers and that the southeast region concentrates the most significant number of institutions. The years with the most publications are 2015 and 2019. Although most articles adopt an ad-hoc methodology, two publications use the Ben Fry methodology and its adaptations. Edward Tufte is the most cited author. There is a concentration of authors in the conceptualization of infographics and data visualization. Finally, the creation of artifacts is the most common type of study, Processing is the most popular design tool to create a data visualization, and visualization in Processing is the most frequent result of a study.