Abstract
The production of knowledge in data visualisation can serve as a space for the reproduction of social hierarchies; therefore, there may be an intrinsic relationship between normative parameters in design and power structures. This study examines normative biases in information design and presents counterpoints to the predominance of these hegemonic values from a feminist perspective. Drawing on a theoretical framework that challenges established norms, this paper proposes a critical analytical and methodological tool to transcend normative bias in the design process. The tool supports the analysis and creation of visualisations from a humanistic and feminist perspective. To validate its potential, it is applied to data visualisations from journalistic sources addressing the underrepresentation of women in politics. The analysis demonstrates the tool’s effectiveness in highlighting biases and gaps in information design artefacts, confirming its ability to promote a fairer and more critical design practice.
Keywords
Information Design; Data Visualisation; Normative Parameters; Power Structures; Feminist Perspective.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.2373
Citation
Novais Queiroz, B., and Tiradentes Souto, V. (2026) Data and power: A tool for designing data visualisations from a feminist perspective, in Simeone, L., Gray, C. M., Verhoeven, A., de Götzen, A., Bakırlıoğlu, Y., Zohar, H., Stead, M., and Buwert, P. (eds.), DRS2026: Edinburgh, 8–12 June, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.2373
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Included in
Data and power: A tool for designing data visualisations from a feminist perspective
The production of knowledge in data visualisation can serve as a space for the reproduction of social hierarchies; therefore, there may be an intrinsic relationship between normative parameters in design and power structures. This study examines normative biases in information design and presents counterpoints to the predominance of these hegemonic values from a feminist perspective. Drawing on a theoretical framework that challenges established norms, this paper proposes a critical analytical and methodological tool to transcend normative bias in the design process. The tool supports the analysis and creation of visualisations from a humanistic and feminist perspective. To validate its potential, it is applied to data visualisations from journalistic sources addressing the underrepresentation of women in politics. The analysis demonstrates the tool’s effectiveness in highlighting biases and gaps in information design artefacts, confirming its ability to promote a fairer and more critical design practice.