1. Tips, Tricks, and Pitfalls Bob Scopatz
Data Visualization
Tips, Tricks, and Pitfalls
Bob Scopatz

3. First Data Plot: circa 1644

4. Minard 1869

5. Modern Times: And Traffic Safety
There are 100s of types of graphs
Most of what we see is 3 types:
Bar
Line
Pie
Graphic Tools are Good and Bad

6. Bad Example: USA Today

7. Another Bad Example: USA Today

8. Pitfall #1: Art over Information
Tufte: Chart Junk
Visual elements that convey nothing
Or worse…confusing/contrary information

9. Tip: Not all Graphic Artistry is Bad

10. Trick: Use Dimensions Meaningfully
Size (Height, Length, Width, Depth)
Color
Shape
Fill (pattern, transparency)
NOTE: Extra time looking should be rewarded by more information extracted

11. Pitfall: Excel Options

12. Tip: Visual Comparison

13. Tricks
Small Multiples
Animation

14. Small Multiples

15. Animation

16. Free Tools!
Google Public Data Explorer
Data Scene (Express Version)

17. Google Public Data Explorer
Animations
Bubble Charts
Add own data!

18. Data Scene (Express) Commercial Product Free version
Limitations in Free Version
Animations

19. Or…Build it Yourself