Data Physicalization

Improviing data understanding and engagement by making data visualizations physical.

Overview

Todo.

Spotlights
Best Paper Honorable Mention at IEEE VIS 2024
IV/LAB authors win another best paper award!
IV/LAB XR Visualization Research Featured in UMN Research Computing Article
The IV/LAB uses new approaches to extended reality visualization that use physical rendering processes to make data more graspable, harnessing the perceptual benefits of physical objects combined with the interactivity of digital visualizations.
Orbacles installed in Minneapolis
It took some wide-load trucks and a giant crane, but the site-specific art installation (i.e., a really big data physicalization) is now installed in downtown Minneapolis!
Publications
2025
Journal and Conference Articles
Teaser image for Touching the Ground: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Data Physicalizations for Spatial Data Analysis Tasks
Touching the Ground: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Data Physicalizations for Spatial Data Analysis Tasks
Bridger Herman, Cullen D Jackson, and Daniel F Keefe. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics 31, 1, 875–885.
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Tags:
#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#bherman
#dkeefe
#top10
#article
#2025
Workshop Papers
Teaser image for Toward Design Justice in Data Visualization: An Ojibwe Language and Medicine Wheel Approach for Designing Data Visualizations
Toward Design Justice in Data Visualization: An Ojibwe Language and Medicine Wheel Approach for Designing Data Visualizations
Sean J. Dorr, and Daniel F. Keefe. alt.VIS: Workshop at IEEE VIS 2025. Retrieved from https://altvis.github.io/#ojibwe-vis.
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Tags:
#indigenous‑computing
#data‑physicalization
#sdorr
#dkeefe
#workshoppaper
#2025
2024
Journal and Conference Articles
Teaser image for Toward Indigenous Presence: A Radical Relationality Approach for Designing Mixed-Reality Indigenous Data Experiences
Toward Indigenous Presence: A Radical Relationality Approach for Designing Mixed-Reality Indigenous Data Experiences
Sean J. Dorr, James W. Rock, Vicente M. Diaz, and Daniel F. Keefe. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications 44, 6, 61–69.
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Tags:
#indigenous‑computing
#xr‑user‑interfaces
#art‑and‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#immersive‑vis
#grand‑challenges‑btif
#sdorr
#dkeefe
#top10
#article
#2024
Workshop Papers
Teaser image for Rain Gauge: Exploring the Design and Sustainability of 3D Printed Clay Physicalizations
Rain Gauge: Exploring the Design and Sustainability of 3D Printed Clay Physicalizations
Bridger Herman, and Daniel F. Keefe. VISions of the Future: Workshop at IEEE VIS 2024.
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#bherman
#dkeefe
#workshoppaper
#2024
2023
Journal and Conference Articles
Teaser image for Cultivating Climate Data Encodings: Designing for Increasing Complexity
Cultivating Climate Data Encodings: Designing for Increasing Complexity
Francesca Samsel, Greg Abram, Catherine Bowman, and Daniel F. Keefe. In 2023 IEEE VIS Arts Program (VISAP). 1–18.
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#dkeefe
#article
#2023
Invited or Juried Artwork Exhibited
Teaser image for The Augmented Paafu Mat. Projection-based mixed reality installation.
The Augmented Paafu Mat. Projection-based mixed reality installation.
Daniel F. Keefe, Vicente Diaz, Kiet Tran, Sean Dorr, Zahara Spilka, Susi Kauka, Sienna Emwalu, Phillipy Emwalu, and Dickson Emwalu. Exhibited at Insurgent Ecologies: Hotter than July, curated by Tia-Simone Gardner, Law Warshaw Gallery, Macalester College in partnership with the Mississippi River Open School for Kinship and Social Exchange, Sept 2023–Dec 2023..
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#grand‑challenges‑btif
#dkeefe
#ktran
#sdorr
#zspilka
#artwork
#2023
Ph.D. Theses
Teaser image for Physical Rendering Processes for More Graspable Extended Reality Data Visualizations
Physical Rendering Processes for More Graspable Extended Reality Data Visualizations
Bridger Herman. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Minnesota.
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#immersive‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#xr‑user‑interfaces
#nsf‑vis‑by‑sketching
#bherman
#phdthesis
#2023
2022
Book Chapters
Teaser image for Orbacles
Orbacles
MINN_LAB Design Collective. Making with Data: Physical Design and Craft in a Data-Driven World, edited by Samuel Huron, Till Nagel, Lora Oehlberg, Wesley Willett. A K Peters/CRC Press.
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Tags:
#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#dkeefe
#sjohnson
#chapter
#2022
Teaser image for Hybrid data constructs: Interacting with biomedical data in augmented spaces
Hybrid data constructs: Interacting with biomedical data in augmented spaces
Daniel F. Keefe, Bridger Herman, Jung Who Nam, Daniel Orban, and Seth Johnson. Making Data: Materializing Digital Information, edited by Ian Gwilt. Bloomsbury Visual Arts, London.
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Tags:
#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑bigdata
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#dkeefe
#bherman
#jnam
#dorban
#sjohnson
#chapter
#2022
2021
Journal and Conference Articles
Teaser image for Affective Palettes for Scientific Visualization: Grounding Environmental Data in the Natural World
Affective Palettes for Scientific Visualization: Grounding Environmental Data in the Natural World
Francesca Samsel, Greg Abram, Stephanie Zeller, and Daniel F. Keefe. In 2021 IEEE VIS Arts Program (VISAP). 20-34.
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#dkeefe
#article
#2021
Teaser image for Multi-Touch Querying on Data Physicalizations in Immersive AR
Multi-Touch Querying on Data Physicalizations in Immersive AR
Bridger Herman, Maxwell Omdal, Stephanie Zeller, Clara A Richter, Francesca Samsel, Dr Greg Abram, and Daniel F Keefe. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction 5, ISS, 1–20.
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#xr‑user‑interfaces
#data‑physicalization
#immersive‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#dkeefe
#article
#2021
Invited or Juried Artwork Exhibited
Teaser image for The Augmented Paafu Mat. Projection-based mixed reality installation.
The Augmented Paafu Mat. Projection-based mixed reality installation.
Daniel F. Keefe, Vicente Diaz, Kiet Tran, Sean Dorr, Zahara Spilka, Susi Kauka, Sienna Emwalu, Phillipy Emwalu, and Dickson Emwalu. Exhibited at 10th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT10), Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art, Dec 2021 - April 2022.
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#grand‑challenges‑btif
#dkeefe
#ktran
#sdorr
#zspilka
#artwork
#2021
2020
Journal and Conference Articles
Teaser image for Printmaking, Puzzles, and Studio Closets: Using Artistic Metaphors to Reimagine the User Interface for Designing Immersive Visualizations
Printmaking, Puzzles, and Studio Closets: Using Artistic Metaphors to Reimagine the User Interface for Designing Immersive Visualizations
Bridger Herman, Francesca Samsel, Annie Bares, Seth Johnson, Greg Abram, and Daniel F Keefe. In IEEE VIS Arts Program (VISAP). 19–28.
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#bherman
#sjohnson
#dkeefe
#article
#2020
Teaser image for Artifact-Based Rendering: Harnessing Natural and Traditional Visual Media for More Expressive and Engaging 3D Visualizations
Artifact-Based Rendering: Harnessing Natural and Traditional Visual Media for More Expressive and Engaging 3D Visualizations
Seth Johnson, Francesca Samsel, Gregory Abram, Daniel Olson, Andrew J. Solis, Bridger Herman, Phillip J. Wolfram, Christophe Lenglet, and Daniel F. Keefe. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics 26, 1, 492-502.
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#immersive‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#sjohnson
#dolson
#bherman
#dkeefe
#top10
#article
#2020
Ph.D. Theses
Teaser image for Palpable Visualizations: Techniques for Creatively Designing Discernible and Accessible Visualizations Grounded in the Physical World
Palpable Visualizations: Techniques for Creatively Designing Discernible and Accessible Visualizations Grounded in the Physical World
Seth Alan Johnson. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Minnesota.
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#immersive‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#nsf‑vis‑by‑sketching
#sjohnson
#phdthesis
#2020
2019
Journal and Conference Articles
Teaser image for Scientific Visualization: Enriching Vocabulary via the Human Hand
Scientific Visualization: Enriching Vocabulary via the Human Hand
Francesca Samsel, Annie Bares, Seth Johnson, and Daniel F. Keefe. In Proceedings of IEEE VIS Arts Program 2019. 15 pages.
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#sjohnson
#dkeefe
#article
#2019
Teaser image for An Emotional Response to the Value of Visualization
An Emotional Response to the Value of Visualization
Yun Wang, Adrien Segal, Roberta Klatzky, Daniel F. Keefe, Petra Isenberg, Jörn Hurtienne, Eva Hornecker, Tim Dwyer, and Stephen Barrass. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications 39, 5, 8-17.
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Tags:
#data‑physicalization
#immersive‑vis
#art‑and‑vis
#dkeefe
#article
#2019
2018
Workshop Papers
Teaser image for Pictoral: Orbacles
Pictoral: Orbacles
Daniel F. Keefe, Ross Altheimer, Andrea J. Johnson, Mahdieh Mahmoudi, Patrick Moe, Maura Rockcastle, Marc Swackhamer, and Aaron Wittkamper. IEEE VIS 2018 Workshop: Toward a Design Language for Data Physicalization.
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#immersive‑vis
#ddc‑minn‑lab
#dkeefe
#workshoppaper
#2018
Teaser image for Boxcars On Potatoes: Exploring the Design Language for Tangible Visualizations of Scalar Data Fields on 3D Surfaces
Boxcars On Potatoes: Exploring the Design Language for Tangible Visualizations of Scalar Data Fields on 3D Surfaces
Bridger Herman, and Daniel F. Keefe. Toward a Design Language for Data Physicalization: Workshop at IEEE VIS 2018.
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#bherman
#dkeefe
#workshoppaper
#2018
2017
Journal and Conference Articles
Teaser image for Weather Report: Structuring Data Experience in the Built Environment
Weather Report: Structuring Data Experience in the Built Environment
Marc Swackhamer, Andrea J. Johnson, Daniel Keefe, Seth Johnson, Ross Altheimer, and Aaron Wittkamper. In Proceedings of Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) University of Utah. 10 pages.
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#immersive‑vis
#ddc‑minn‑lab
#sjohnson
#dkeefe
#article
#2017
Invited or Juried Artwork Exhibited
Teaser image for Orbacles
Orbacles
Marc Swackhamer, Andrea J. Johnson, Aaron Wittkamper, Ross Altheimer, Daniel F. Keefe, and Maura Rockcastle. Creative City Challenge Commission Winner. Installed at The Commons, Minneapolis, MN, June 10-July 24, 2017.
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#immersive‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#ddc‑minn‑lab
#dkeefe
#artwork
#2017
2016
Invited or Juried Artwork Exhibited
Teaser image for Weather Report
Weather Report
Aaron Wittkamper, Seth Johnson, Deuk-Geun Hong, Daniel F. Keefe, Marc Swackhamer, Robert A. Hunter, Andrea J. Johnson, Ross Altheimer, and Maura Rockcastle. Site-specific interactive outdoor installation.Northern Spark Arts Festival, Minneapolis, MN, June 10-11.
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#immersive‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#ddc‑minn‑lab
#dkeefe
#sjohnson
#artwork
#2016
2013
Miscellaneous
Teaser image for Foreword to the special section on touching the 3rd dimension
Foreword to the special section on touching the 3rd dimension
Frank Steinicke, Daniel Keefe, Antonio Krüger, Jean-Baptiste de la Rivière, and Hrvoje Benko. Computers Graphics 37, 3, A1 - A2.
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Tags:
#xr‑user‑interfaces
#data‑physicalization
#immersive‑vis
#dkeefe
#misc
#2013
2012
Workshops, Panels, Other Events Organized
Teaser image for The 3rd Dimension of CHI (3DCHI): Touching and Designing 3D User Interfaces
The 3rd Dimension of CHI (3DCHI): Touching and Designing 3D User Interfaces
Ken Anderson, Leena Arhippainen, Hrvoje Benko, Jean-Baptiste de la Rivire, Jonna HŁkkilŁ, Antonio Krger, Daniel Keefe, Minna Pakanen, and Frank Steinicke. Whole day workshop at ACM CHI.
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Tags:
#immersive‑vis
#xr‑user‑interfaces
#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑vis‑by‑sketching
#nsf‑career
#nsf‑bigdata
#dkeefe
#organized
#2012
2011
Workshop Papers
Teaser image for Sketching Over Props: Understanding and Interpreting 3D Sketch Input Relative to Rapid Prototype Props
Sketching Over Props: Understanding and Interpreting 3D Sketch Input Relative to Rapid Prototype Props
Bret Jackson, and Daniel F. Keefe. IUI 2011 Sketch Recognition Workshop.
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Tags:
#3d‑painting
#xr‑user‑interfaces
#data‑physicalization
#bjackson
#dkeefe
#workshoppaper
#2011
Posters
Teaser image for Poster: Supporting Internal Visualization of Biomedical Dataset via 3D Rapid Prototypes and Sketch-based Gestures
Poster: Supporting Internal Visualization of Biomedical Dataset via 3D Rapid Prototypes and Sketch-based Gestures
Vamsi Konchada, Bret Jackson, Trung Le, Iman Borazjani, Fotis Sotiropoulos, and Daniel F. Keefe. Interactive Graphics and Games 2011.
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Tags:
#xr‑user‑interfaces
#data‑physicalization
#immersive‑vis
#vkonchada
#bjackson
#dkeefe
#poster
#2011
Workshops, Panels, Other Events Organized
Teaser image for Touching the 3rd Dimension (T3D)
Touching the 3rd Dimension (T3D)
Frank Steinicke, Hrvoje Benko, Florian Daiber, Daniel F. Keefe, and Jean-Baptiste de al Riviere. Special interest group meeting CHI.
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Tags:
#immersive‑vis
#xr‑user‑interfaces
#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑career
#dkeefe
#organized
#2011
Projects
Back to Indigenous Futures
A UMN Grand Challenges Project
Sculpting Visualizations
Toward a practice and theory of 3D scientific visualizations using physical objects and augmented reality.
MINN_LAB
An interdisciplinary design collective
Visualization by Sketching, Analogy, and Computational Creativity
NSF 1218058
Lab Members
Daniel F. Keefe
Professor
Sean Dorr
Ph.D. Program
Bridger Herman, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Program
Morgan Turner, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Jung Nam, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Program
Seth Johnson, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Program
Bret Jackson, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Program