  Data visualization design often requires creativity, and research is needed
to understand its nature and means for promoting it. The current visualization
literature on creativity is not well developed, especially with respect to the
experiences of professional data visualization designers. We conducted
semi-structured interviews with 15 data visualization practitioners, focusing
on a specific aspect of creativity known as design fixation. Fixation occurs
when designers adhere blindly or prematurely to a set of ideas that limit
creative outcomes. We present practitioners' experiences and perspectives from
their own design practice, specifically focusing on their views of (i) the
nature of fixation, (ii) factors encouraging fixation, and (iii) factors
discouraging fixation. We identify opportunities for future research related to
chart recommendations, inspiration, and perspective shifts in data
visualization design.
