Sculpting Visualizations

Toward a practice and theory of 3D scientific visualizations using physical objects and augmented reality.
Co-PIs: Daniel Keefe and Francesca Samsel (UT-Austin)
September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2022
National Science Foundation

Project Page

Please go to the main website for the Sculpting Vis Collaborative for the most up to date information about the project!

Artifact Based Rendering

Spotlights
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.
IV/LAB in 2023 annual brochure of the Coalition for Academic Scientific Computation
Igniting Progress: From Big Data to Bold Solutions
Virtual reality helps shape and respond to artistic impulses
Prof. Keefe interviewed for an article in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).
IV/LAB Research featured in Physics Today magazine
IV/LAB research featured in the Physics Today cover story 'Mingling art and science opens minds'
Sculpting Vis Featured on CG&A Cover
The IV/LAB's NSF-sponsored project on artistic design for scientific visualization is the cover feature for the Jan/Feb issue of IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications.
Best Poster - Again!
IV/LAB wins the Best Poster Award at IEEE SciVis for the 2nd year in a row!
Publications
2024
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 Early access online, 1–11.
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#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#bherman
#dkeefe
#top10
#article
#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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#art‑and‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#dkeefe
#article
#2023
Miscellaneous
Teaser image for Abstract: Cultivating Macroalgae for Biofuels: Visualizing the Chemistry
Abstract: Cultivating Macroalgae for Biofuels: Visualizing the Chemistry
Francesca Samsel, Greg Abram, Stephanie Zeller, Z.Cao, Phil Wolfram, Bridger Herman, and Daniel F. Keefe. ACM/IEEE Supercomputing 2023: International Conference for High Performance Computing Networking Storage and Analysis.
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#art‑and‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#bherman
#dkeefe
#misc
#2023
2022
Journal and Conference Articles
Teaser image for V-Mail: 3D-Enabled Correspondence about Spatial Data on (Almost) All Your Devices
V-Mail: 3D-Enabled Correspondence about Spatial Data on (Almost) All Your Devices
Jung Who Nam, Tobia Isenberg, and Daniel F. Keefe. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, .
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#art‑and‑vis
#immersive‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#jnam
#dkeefe
#top10
#article
#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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#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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#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑bigdata
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#dkeefe
#bherman
#jnam
#dorban
#sjohnson
#chapter
#2022
Posters
Teaser image for Poster: Linked Spatial and Temporal Normalization for Analysis of Cyclical 4D Skeletal Motion Data
Poster: Linked Spatial and Temporal Normalization for Analysis of Cyclical 4D Skeletal Motion Data
Morgan L. Turner, Bridger Herman, Matthias Broske, and Daniel F. Keefe. IEEE VIS Posters.
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#art‑and‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#mturner
#bherman
#mbroske
#dkeefe
#poster
#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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#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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#art‑and‑vis
#xr‑user‑interfaces
#data‑physicalization
#immersive‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#dkeefe
#article
#2021
Teaser image for Enabling Crosscutting Visualization for Geoscience
Enabling Crosscutting Visualization for Geoscience
Danielle Albers Szafir, Francesca Samsel, Stephanie Zeller, and Rick Saltus. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications 41, 1, 49-57.
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#art‑and‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#article
#2021
Teaser image for The State of the Art of Spatial Interfaces for 3D Visualization
The State of the Art of Spatial Interfaces for 3D Visualization
Lonni Besançon, Anders Ynnerman, Daniel F Keefe, Lingyun Yu, and Tobias Isenberg. Computer Graphics Forum 40, 1, 293–326.
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Tags:
#xr‑user‑interfaces
#immersive‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#dkeefe
#article
#2021
Teaser image for Antarctic Water Masses and Ice Shelves: Visualizing the Physics
Antarctic Water Masses and Ice Shelves: Visualizing the Physics
Greg Abram, Francesca Samsel, Mark R Petersen, Xylar Asay-Davis, Darin Comeau, and Stephen F Price. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications 41, 1, 35–41.
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#art‑and‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#article
#2021
Undergraduate Honors Theses
Teaser image for Comparative Analysis of Data Visualization Aesthetics: A User Study Framework
Comparative Analysis of Data Visualization Aesthetics: A User Study Framework
Angeline Moyer. Honors Thesis, University of Minnesota Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
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#art‑and‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#amoyer
#honorsthesis
#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 Close Reading for Visualization Evaluation
Close Reading for Visualization Evaluation
Annie Bares, Daniel F. Keefe, and Francesca Samsel. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications 40, 04, 84-95.
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#art‑and‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#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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#art‑and‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#immersive‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#sjohnson
#dolson
#bherman
#dkeefe
#top10
#article
#2020
Teaser image for Using Close Reading as a Method for Evaluating Visualizations
Using Close Reading as a Method for Evaluating Visualizations
Annie Bares, Stephanie Zeller, Cullen D. Jackson, Daniel F. Keefe, and Francesca Samsel. In 2020 IEEE Workshop on Evaluation and Beyond - Methodological Approaches to Visualization (BELIV). 29-37.
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#art‑and‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#dkeefe
#article
#2020
Invited or Juried Artwork Exhibited
Teaser image for Salt, Chemistry and Cultivation: An immersive experience of climate data in the Gulf of Mexico
Salt, Chemistry and Cultivation: An immersive experience of climate data in the Gulf of Mexico
Sculpting Vis Collaborative. Accepted to South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival 2020, Austin, TX (Delayed due to Pandemic).
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#art‑and‑vis
#immersive‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#dkeefe
#sjohnson
#bherman
#artwork
#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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#art‑and‑vis
#immersive‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#nsf‑vis‑by‑sketching
#sjohnson
#phdthesis
#2020
Posters
Teaser image for Automatic Generation of Data Legends for Multi-Variate Artist Driven Visualizations
Automatic Generation of Data Legends for Multi-Variate Artist Driven Visualizations
Claire Weissman, Bridger Herman, Stephanie Zeller, Francesca Samsel, and Daniel F. Keefe. IEEE SciVis Posters.

SciVis Best Poster Award
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#art‑and‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#cweissman
#bherman
#dkeefe
#poster
#2020
Workshops, Panels, Other Events Organized
Teaser image for Artifact-Based Rendering: VR Visualization by Hand
Artifact-Based Rendering: VR Visualization by Hand
Daniel F. Keefe, Francesca Samsel, and Bridger Herman. IEEE VIS Tutorial, Virtual.
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#art‑and‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#bherman
#dkeefe
#organized
#2020
Miscellaneous
Teaser image for Abstract: Human Fingerprints and Artistic Vocabulary; Rendering Data, Creating Engagement, Connection and Context to Earth System Models
Abstract: Human Fingerprints and Artistic Vocabulary; Rendering Data, Creating Engagement, Connection and Context to Earth System Models
Francesca Samsel, Daniel Keefe, Bridger Herman, and Greg Abram.
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#art‑and‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#bherman
#dkeefe
#misc
#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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#art‑and‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#sjohnson
#dkeefe
#article
#2019
Posters
Teaser image for Poster: Sculpting Visualization: Expanding the Vocabulary of Scientific Visualization, Facilitating the Construction of Engaging Communication of Complex Science
Poster: Sculpting Visualization: Expanding the Vocabulary of Scientific Visualization, Facilitating the Construction of Engaging Communication of Complex Science
Francesca Samsel, Annie Bares, Seth Johnson, PJ Wolfram Jr, and Daniel Keefe.
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Tags:
#art‑and‑vis
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#sjohnson
#dkeefe
#poster
#2019
2018
Workshop Papers
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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#art‑and‑vis
#data‑physicalization
#nsf‑sculpting‑vis
#bherman
#dkeefe
#workshoppaper
#2018
Themes
Art and Design in Visualization
AR/MR/VR Tools for Free-Form 3D Artistic Expression
Data Physicalization
Improviing data understanding and engagement by making data visualizations physical.
Immersive Data Visualization
When should we walk inside our data?
3D Painting
AR/MR/VR Tools for Free-Form 3D Artistic Expression
XR User Interfaces
Novel Spatial User Interfaces for 3D Modeling, Navigation, Selection, Manipulation, and More.
Lab Members
Daniel F. Keefe
Professor
Sean Dorr
Ph.D. Program
Kiet Tran
Ph.D. Program
Bridger Herman, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Program
Jung Nam, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Program
Morgan Turner, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Seth Johnson, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Program