Metaphors as Knowledge Activators in Data Visualizations: the case of the Archipelago of Calvino's literary works.

In this paper we present the outcomes of a collaboration between scholars and designers aimed at exploring the potentials of data visualization in support to the creation of literary critique. By exploiting action research, we envisioned a methodological integration between data visualization, design and literary critique aimed at the representation of humanistic data and knowledge. In our work we made an extensive use of the visual metaphors (the natural landscape), with the aim of activating domain experts’ knowledge and externalizing inconsistent and ill-defined information. In conclusion we argue that similar methodological integrations are important contributions that communication designers can bring to the field of Digital Humanities.