Making Data Harder to Read: Visualizations that Intentionally Increase Time and Effort

This position paper questions the common prioritization of data visualization designs that minimize the time and effort required from viewers, particularly in the context of communicative visualizations. Our argument is grounded in observations of designs that deliberately increase reading time and physical effort. While decreasing efficiency, it enhances other communication purposes. We illustrate such approaches with three examples focused on communicating environmental issues. We then argue that this kind of design deserves more attention in the visualization community and conclude with future research opportunities.