visualizing Information in 6 steps

visualizing informationin 6 steps

version with links to sources

source: Wire Magazine 16 June 2008Artifacts from the future

need for visualization

6 principles to keep in mind

data-ink ratio

= data-inktotal ink used to print the graphic

= proportion of a graphic’s ink devoted to the non-redundant display of data

= 1 – proportion of graphic that can be erased

21 3

54 6

source: The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward R. Tufte

1

2

need grid?make itlighter

source: train schedule by E.J. Marey

1

2

standard Excelgrid and axis

data-ink ratio

di

Robert Shumann2d > 3d

source: The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward R. Tufte

men

s

ions

divisions in France2d > 4d

source: The War with Germany by Leonard P. Ayres

breakdown of car components2d > 4d

source: The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward R. Tufte

bullet chart5d

source: bullet chart by Stephen Few

dimensions

size

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio

golden ratio

source: Beautiful Evidence by Edward R. Tufte

small is beautiful - sparklines

sparklines for binary data

source: Beautiful Evidence by Edward R. Tufte

size

font

do not mix styles and cases!

source: The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward R. Tufte

1

2

emphasis here

use alternativefor boring Arialeg Trebuchet

fonts

coloremphasis here

eye does not focus on data

source: The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward R. Tufte

source: The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward R. Tufte

get color inspiration from nature

use of contours

source: The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward R. Tufte

1 2

colorselection

source: colorbrewer.org by Cynthia Brewer

1 out of 10 people perceive red and green like gray

source: Information Visualization: Perception for Design by Colin Ware

colors

open your eyes and be aware of

source: Excel 2007 sample graphs by Microsoft Excel Blog Team

source: Excel 2007 sample graphs by Microsoft Excel Blog Team

do not use 3d

use bar charts instead of pie charts

is this a dashboard?

source: Delcom International B.V.

simplicity and elegance are key!source: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd.

source: airline dashboard by BonaVista Systems

books

The Visual Display of Quantitative Information Envisioning Information Visual Explanations

Information VisualizationInformation Dashboard DesignBeautiful Evidence

blogsexcelcharts.com/blog

visualisationmagazine.com/blogvisualthinkmap

peltiertech.com/WordPress

neoformix.com

blog.xlcubed.com

www.coolinfographics.com

www.juiceanalytics.com/writing

www.visualcomplexity.com/vc/blog

eagereyes.org