The rise of open data in the cultural domain is democratizing access to complex datasets usually presented as large multivariate and multilayered graphs. However, the exploration of such datasets is challenging for laypersons. The objective of this work is to develop and evaluate a new method for exploring and understanding a specific type of multilayered graph that combines a large bipartite graph with a set of tree structures. This paper proposes MuzLink, an interactive visualization tool that allows the user to navigate, search, locate, and compare collaborative and influential relationships between musical artists through the exploration of musical adaptations. The proposed tool is based on a set of connected timelines visualizing how an artist’s collaborations, inspirations, and influences evolved over time. This design study is conducted in close collaboration with BAnQ, the national library and archives agency of the Quebec government. A controlled user study, done with a group of BAnQ users, and two case studies, show how the proposed approach is capable of performing a considerable set of analytical and exploratory tasks.

文化领域开放数据的兴起正在使对复杂数据集的访问民主化，这些数据集通常以大型多元和多层图的形式呈现。然而，对这些数据集的探索对于外行来说是具有挑战性的。这项工作的目标是开发和评估一种新方法，用于探索和理解将大型二部图与一组树结构相结合的特定类型的多层图。本文提出了 MuzLink，这是一种交互式可视化工具，允许用户通过探索音乐改编来导航、搜索、定位和比较音乐艺术家之间的协作和有影响力的关系。提议的工具基于一组连接的时间线，可视化艺术家的合作、灵感和影响如何随着时间的推移而演变。这项设计研究是与魁北克政府的国家图书馆和档案机构 BAnQ 密切合作进行的。由一组 BAnQ 用户完成的受控用户研究和两个案例研究显示了所提出的方法如何能够执行大量的分析和探索任务。