Designing Annotations in Visualization: Considerations from Visualization Practitioners and Educators
2026-04-09 • Human-Computer Interaction
Human-Computer Interaction
AI summaryⓘ
The authors studied how people add notes and explanations, called annotations, to visual data in practical settings. They talked with ten professionals who make these annotations and seven teachers who help others learn about visualization. Their research shows the thought process and choices behind adding annotations, not just the final look. This work helps explain how annotations are created to communicate clearly and suggests ways to improve tools and teaching methods.
annotationvisualization designheuristicsqualitative studyvisual communicationdata visualizationdesign trade-offsviewer agencyeducator perspectiveguidelines
Authors
Md Dilshadur Rahman, Devin Lange, Ghulam Jilani Quadri, Paul Rosen
Abstract
Annotation is a central mechanism in visualization design that enables people to communicate key insights. Prior research has provided essential accounts of the visual forms annotations take, but less attention has been paid to the decisions behind them. This paper examines how annotations are designed in practice and how educators reflect on those practices. We conducted a two-phase qualitative study: interviews with ten practitioners from diverse backgrounds revealed the heuristics they draw on when creating annotations, and interviews with seven visualization educators offered complementary perspectives situated within broader concerns of clarity, guidance, and viewer agency. These studies provide a systematic account of annotation design knowledge in professional settings, highlighting the considerations, trade-offs, and contextual judgments that shape the use of annotations. By making this tacit expertise explicit, our work complements prior form-focused studies, strengthens understanding of annotation as a design activity, and points to opportunities for improved tool and guideline support.