  Glyph-based visualization achieves an impressive graphic design when
associated with comprehensive visual metaphors, which help audiences
effectively grasp the conveyed information through revealing data semantics.
However, creating such metaphoric glyph-based visualization (MGV) is not an
easy task, as it requires not only a deep understanding of data but also
professional design skills. This paper proposes MetaGlyph, an automatic system
for generating MGVs from a spreadsheet. To develop MetaGlyph, we first conduct
a qualitative analysis to understand the design of current MGVs from the
perspectives of metaphor embodiment and glyph design. Based on the results, we
introduce a novel framework for generating MGVs by metaphoric image selection
and an MGV construction. Specifically, MetaGlyph automatically selects
metaphors with corresponding images from online resources based on the input
data semantics. We then integrate a Monte Carlo tree search algorithm that
explores the design of an MGV by associating visual elements with data
dimensions given the data importance, semantic relevance, and glyph
non-overlap. The system also provides editing feedback that allows users to
customize the MGVs according to their design preferences. We demonstrate the
use of MetaGlyph through a set of examples, one usage scenario, and validate
its effectiveness through a series of expert interviews.
