Abstract: After years of development, narrative visualization has been applied in many fields, and its creators have transcended the news media industry that was of greater concern in early visualization research, moving towards broader and more diverse groups. This report will first explore the scene expansion of narrative visualization, taking the data art field as an example to analyze its innovative applications and practical cases. At the same time, this report will also focus on the potential problems behind the widespread application of narrative visualization, such as data distortion, deliberate exaggeration, and misleading communication, reflecting on the shortcomings and risks of visualization design, and exploring how to make narrative visualization convey information more accurately and objectively.

Speaker Bio: Xingyu Lan, Young Associate Researcher at the School of Journalism, Fudan University, Shanghai "Chenguang Scholar". Her research areas include narrative visualization, user experience, information design, and intelligent communication. She has published multiple papers in CCF-A journals and conferences such as IEEE VIS and ACM CHI, and serves as a reviewer for multiple SCI/SSCI journals and domestic core journals. She has won research awards including IEEE VIS Best Paper Award, Best Paper Nomination Award, IEEE PacificVIS Best Paper Award, and CSIG Natural Science Award, as well as practical awards including First Prize in China Data Journalism Competition, Best Data Journalism Gold Award in China Data Content Competition, and First Prize in China Digital Humanities Open Data Innovation Research Competition.

Abstract: With the rapid evolution of big data and artificial intelligence technologies, narrative visualization has become an important pathway for revealing data value and driving decision-making. This lecture will start with definitions and elements, sorting out the similarities and differences between narrative visualization and traditional data visualization; by reviewing the development from 18th-century static time charts to modern multimedia cases, it will reveal the two core stages of story framework and storytelling; then introduce the dual research perspectives of design space and computational design, combined with representative research results, analyze how animation and interaction shape narrative rhythm, and demonstrate the application of intelligent methods such as pictogram style transfer and persuasion strategy prediction in enhancing expressive effects.

Speaker Bio: Yang Shi, Associate Professor and doctoral supervisor at the College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University, committee member of the Visualization and Visual Analytics Professional Committee of the Chinese Society for Image and Graphics, and executive committee member of the Human-Computer Interaction Committee of the China Computer Federation. She focuses on the interdisciplinary field of computer science and design, with research directions in visualization design theory models and intelligent visualization design methods. In recent years, she has published papers in top international journals and conferences in visualization, human-computer interaction, and artificial intelligence, including IEEE TVCG, ACM CHI, ACM CSCW, AAAI, etc., and received two Best Paper Nominations at IEEE VIS2022, Best Paper Nomination at IEEE PacificVis2018, and Best Paper Award at ChinaVis2020. She received the Second Prize of the Natural Science Award from the Chinese Society for Image and Graphics in 2022 (ranked 2nd), was selected for the Forbes China 30 Under 30 list in 2019 (Science field), and received the ACM SIGCHI China Rising Star Award in 2023. She has led 2 National Natural Science Foundation projects and 1 provincial and ministerial level natural science foundation project. She also served as IEEE VIS2022-2023 Meetup Chair and IEEE PacificVis2020 Poster Chair. For more information, please visit: https://xiaoyangtao.github.io/

Abstract: Narrative visualization has gradually transcended its tool attributes of information transmission, becoming an interdisciplinary practice that integrates artistic expression with technological media. This report will explore how to borrow narrative techniques such as composition, editing, and rhythm from film language to enrich the expressive tension and emotional resonance of data visualization. The report will share the speaker's practical experience in cross-creation between film and data, showcasing multiple case works of films and data videos. It will also reflect on how to balance the tension between narrative expression and data authenticity under the trend of "cinematization" design, avoiding visual rhetoric from obscuring information transparency, and promoting the construction of more critically conscious narrative visualization methodologies.

Speaker Bio: Xian Xu, Research Assistant Professor at the Interdisciplinary School of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Visiting Scholar at Cambridge University and Oxford University, screenwriter, and bestselling author. Her research covers art and technology, data narrative, human-computer interaction, virtual reality and education in the metaverse. She has published over twenty papers in CCF-A top conferences and journals such as ACM CHI, ACM SIGGRAPH, IEEE VIS, IEEE VR, ACM Multimedia, and serves as program committee member for multiple international conferences and SCI journal reviewer and area chair. Her works have been exhibited at SIGGRAPH Art Gallery, ICRA Arts Program, Asia Digital Art Festival, and other venues. Her VR education project received the IEEE VR Best Paper Honorable Mention Award. She participated in organizing the first HKUST AI Film Festival, attracting over 700 submissions from 82 countries worldwide and receiving coverage from over 300 international media outlets. Her screenwriting works achieved first place in viewership ratings on Zhejiang TV and Dragon TV.

Abstract: Visual analytics has become a core technology for driving the development of digital humanities, capable of conducting efficient data analysis and exploring new insights in vast historical databases, greatly enriching our understanding of data. This presentation will introduce how to explore historical biographies through interactive visual analysis technologies and reveal social structures and hidden historical narratives from a group perspective. The report will also extend the analytical perspective from historical figures to cultural art collections, capturing the multi-dimensional historical backgrounds represented by these art collections. Through analyzing well-documented Chinese traditional paintings - handscrolls, it will demonstrate how to transform these static artworks into vivid historical narratives.

Speaker Bio: Wei Zhang, faculty member at the Intelligent Cultural Computing Research Center, Hangzhou City University. Holds a PhD from Zhejiang University, specializing in visual analytics and digital humanities research. Has published over 20 academic papers in international conferences and journals including IEEE VIS, IEEE TVCG, and NeurIPS.