1. Visualizing Data and Effective Graphics Design
Daniel Lo
2 Dec 2016

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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