Data Visualization - Path to an Augmented Narrative

The study presented takes place in the context of a Design PhD, under the subject of Augmented narrative: contributions of digital technologies for information design. This paper reflects the design of a strategy to address, from the perspective of information design, the data collected and corresponding interpretations performed within the scope of the project designobs.pt - Towards a Portuguese Design Observatory: Models, Instruments, Representation and Strategies. It is intended, on the one hand, to deepen the subject matter of narrative representation and, on the other hand, to recognize ways of multimodality in information design, specifically in the communicational dimension of data visualization. It is also intended to identify the potential of using experimental media, ie. digital media that do not traditionally figure as information design tools, as meaning creators. Masud et al. [8] propose an approach to data visualization based on communication design and defend the need for an interdisciplinary proposal guided by design. Considering the three types of visualization - analytical, communicative and formative suggested by Masud et al., the approach undertaken in this study lies within communicative visualization, where narrative constitutes an operator of personal appropriation of information. The narrative representation in information design is discussed by several authors [15] [ 7] [14] [13] who, although proposing different perspectives, elect the balance between complexity and information legibility as the main challenge. In this sense, the cycle of narration/exploration developed by Venturini et al. [13] establishes a series of movements between both ends, constituting a promising method to the representation of narratives. Based on that process, a strategy was designed, which initially oriented the research on the representation of project data (designobs. pt) starting from an appropriation of the Venturini map in order to place the proposal in the phase where the experiences about digital technology and multimodality will occur.