Interactive Storytelling of Complex Systems Through Metaphor

This case study presents four web-based interactive visualization projects we developed to communicate complexity science research to broad, non-expert audiences. Each project employs metaphorical structures—such as forests, webs, and flowers—and narrative techniques like scrollytelling and dashboards to make intricate systems more intuitive. We reflect on how metaphor choice, visual framing, and narrative structure shape user interpretation and engagement, and identify design tensions between abstraction and accuracy in communicating complex systems across diverse domains.