Towards a Philosophy of Data Visualization: Design, Aesthetics, and Epistemology

Once more, a pandemic has shown us the great value of data visualizations and brought data displays to the center of public attention. As a powerful form of visual communication, like the cholera map created by John Snow in 1854, today’s data visualizations can influence decision-making and shape the way we see the world. What new worlds does visualization generate? This question, raised by Alberto Cairo in his foreword to the book Data Visualization in Society (Engebretsen & Kennedy, 2020), might serve as a starting point for a philosophy of data visualization that does not yet exist, but which is looming on the horizon.

This is the first of a series of Research Topics that aim to contribute to an emerging philosophy of data visualization by promoting research on, among other things, the epistemology, ethics, aesthetics, logic, and critical theory of data displays. Such research includes, for example, research relating to semiotics of data visualization, trends and standards in the production of data visualizations, design and visualization practices, methodological and technological aspects of data visualization, cognition and perception of visual data displays, visual literacy, genre theory, the history of visualization, ethical norms, and theoretical approaches to visualization.

As data visualization has become indispensable in a digital information society, a philosophy of data visualization is key to achieving a better understanding of this type of visual communication. It involves a wide range of academic disciplines and professional fields, such as journalism, science communication, business communication, and health communication.

A philosophy of data visualization developed by scholars from a variety of disciplines seeks to more deeply understand, more effectively and efficiently design, and more adequately contextualize data visualizations for the benefit of science and society. Such a philosophy of data visualization may also practically serve as a stepping stone for the systematic teaching of data visualization courses in an academic context.

This Research Topic focuses on the design, aesthetics, and epistemology of data visualization, including maps in digital media. We invite contributions covering themes such as the following:

• visualization of historical data and historic(al) data visualizations
• data visualization and scenario building
• cognition and perception
• framing effects and visual metaphors
• aesthetics and epistemology of data visualization
• design spaces and interfaces
• design and visualization practices
• semiotic resources of data visualization
• the relationship between text and data visualization
• the role of data visualization in shaping public discourse.

We welcome empirical research of all kinds as well as theoretical approaches, practical application studies, and literature reviews.

Keywords: data visualization, visual communication, design, aesthetics, epistemology, data display

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.