Dr. Muna Alebri

Rethinking Data Visualization: From Cultural Contexts to Visual Embellishments

My research explores how design decisions in data visualization whether defaults in software tools, cultural contexts, or stylistic choices shape the way people interpret and engage with information. I focus on two strands: (1) how right-to-left (RTL) scripts such as Arabic influence the reading and understanding of visualizations, and (2) how visual embellishments such as pictorial elements, icons, and backgrounds affect sense-making, enticement, and engagement.

One of my most recent projects, Design Patterns in Right-to-Left Visualizations, offers the first structured framework for designing inclusive Arabic data visualizations, addressing mirrored axes, numeral systems, and culturally resonant structures. I am also collaborating with researchers from King’s College London & Worcester Polytechnic Institute to further understand how designers navigate designing for RTL scripts and the challenges faced while using visualization authoring tools. I will continue working on this area for the next two years as I was recently awarded a start-up grant from the UAEU . In parallel, my empirical studies on embellished visualizations provide critical evidence on when and how decorative elements help or hinder understanding. Together, these research streams build towards a broader agenda of creating inclusive and engaging visualization platforms that go beyond functionality to reflect cultural diversity and human experience.