Aesthetic Data Visualization as a Resource for Educating Creative Design

Data visualization is usually considered an expert field reserved for the computer science or data analysis specialist. In contrast, this paper argues that the approaches and theories from data visualization can form a rich contextual resource for teaching creative design principles to students. A conceptual data mapping model is proposed that describes a continuum between 'Traditional' data visualization applications and more artistically inclined works of 'Visualization art'. This model is useful to clarify conceptual relationships between different visualization design approaches, ranging from traditional data representation applications over to ambient displays to visualization art experiences. This exchange of insights from related scientific and artistic fields forms the foundation for potential collaboration initiatives in research or educational contexts.status: publishe