Visualization practices are not random – they are a multifaceted collation of design conventions and systems of organization. In the context of data, visualization serves as a crucial bridge that transforms abstract figures into visual stories, making the invisible visible and the incomprehensible intuitive. Objectives in visualization practices are aimed at facilitating more meaningful ways of interpreting and communicating data as a part of engaging non-designers in research processes. What can be learned about data visualization practices when goals shift from visual representation to data exploration and translations discovered through material language?