Text plays a fundamental yet understudied role as a narrative device in data visualization. While existing research has extensively explored text as data input and interaction modality, its function in supporting storytelling and interpretation remains fragmented. To address this gap, this work presents a systematic review of 98 publications that provide insights into using text as narrative. We investigate how text can be utilized in visualization, analyze its functions and effects, and explore how it can be designed to facilitate data communication. Our synthesis identifies significant research gaps in this domain and proposes future directions to advance the integration of text and visualization, ultimately aiming to provide guidance for designing text that enhances narrative clarity and fosters engagement.
@article{arxiv.2603.15640,
title = {The Evolving Duet of Two Modalities: A Survey on Integrating Text and Visualization for Data Communication},
author = {Xingyu Lan and Xi Li and Yixing Zhang and Mengqin Cheng and Jiazhe Wang and Siming Chen},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2603.15640},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
The survey has been peer-reviewed and accepted by ACM CHI 2026