Visualizing Data and Effective Graphics Design Daniel Lo 2 Dec 2016

Graphics tell a story Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density naturally interpreted without supplementary information and explanation Accuracy tell the story the way you want it Information Density keep the viewer’s interest with intricate details Attention Management guide the viewer along the right path with graphical cues Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density Attention Management

Graphics tell a story Self Sufficiency - Accuracy – tell the story the way you want it Information Density - Attention Management - Visual prominence from central location and color of key message Natural interpretation of size, anchored by numbers Choice of colors of two main lines Subtle link to subplot Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density Attention Management

Chartjunk elements of the graphic that does not tell the viewer anything new Main message? Why central position? Confuse numerical quantities Low contrast, small text size New York Times, Aug 9, 1978 Time, Apr 9, 1979 Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density Attention Management

Colormaps Use perceptual colormaps! Eye and Brain, Richard Gregory; MyCarta, Matteo Niccoli Color of the Sciences, Jan Keonderink; MyCarta, Matteo Niccoli Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density Attention Management

A thousand words Graphics convey a lot of information quickly Should be prioritized over paragraphs of text or speech Take advantage of natural ability to spot patterns and subtle differences Tables are good when < ~20 entries (except for reference tables) ~45 deg slopes Visual Explanations, Edward Tufte Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density Attention Management

Muting the grid Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density La méthod graphique, E. J. Marey Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density Attention Management

Muting the grid Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density New Jersey Transit; Envisioning Information, Edward Tufte Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density Attention Management

Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density Attention Management Carl Sagan; Beautiful Evidence, Edward Tufte Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density Attention Management

Colors Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density Envisioning Information, Edward Tufte Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density Attention Management

Colors Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density International Hydrographic Organization; Visual Explanations, Edward Tufte Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density Attention Management

Parallelism Highlight similarities and differences For explanation juxtaposition of similar graphical elements Highlight similarities and differences For explanation Studies in Visual Communication, Marta Braun

Sparklines Available from Excel 2010 onwards small, simple and high-density graphics designed to provide quick impressions of trends in the data Available from Excel 2010 onwards Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Edward Tufte http://www.databison.com/sparklines-in-excel-new-features-in-excel-2010-series/

Better Scatterplot Axis Designs Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Edward Tufte

Graphics tell a story Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density naturally interpreted without supplementary information and explanation Accuracy tell the story the way you want it Information Density keep the viewer’s interest with intricate details Attention Management guide the viewer along the right path with graphical cues

Graphics tell a story Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density naturally interpreted without supplementary information and explanation Accuracy tell the story the way you want it Information Density keep the viewer’s interest with intricate details Attention Management guide the viewer along the right path with graphical cues

Graphics tell a story Self Sufficiency Accuracy Information Density naturally interpreted without supplementary information and explanation Accuracy tell the story the way you want it Information Density keep the viewer’s interest with intricate details Attention Management guide the viewer along the right path with graphical cues

Graphics tell a story Self Sufficiency naturally interpreted without supplementary information and explanation Accuracy tell the story the way you want it Information Density keep the viewer’s interest with intricate details Attention Management guide the viewer along the right path with graphical cues