HE SAYS ...

“If the statistics are boring, then you've got the wrong numbers.”

— Beautiful Evidence

“Graphical excellence is that which gives to the viewer the greatest number of ideas in the shortest time with the least ink in the smallest space.”

— The Visual Display of Quantitative Information

“It is not how much empty space there is, but rather how it is used. It is not how much information there is, but rather how effectively it is arranged.”

— Beautiful Evidence

“We shouldn’t abbreviate the truth but rather get a new method of presentation.”

— Beautiful Evidence

DESIGN THEORIES

Revision of John Snow’s Cholera Epidemic Diagram

Beautiful Evidence, p35

View full-screen in Gallery

DESIGN THEORIES

Avoid Lie Factors

Lie factor = size of effect shown in graphic / size of effect in data

See examples

Variation in  Data vs in Design

There should be consistency across the entire graphic. Expections are set where you start looking.

See examples

Data-ink Ratio

The data-ink ratio is the proportion of Ink that is used to present actual data compared to the total amount of ink (or pixels) used in the entire display.

See examples

Hierarchy in graphics

A graphic should have at least three levels of viewing.

See examples

Relational graphics

Remove the time series from the axis and see the relationship of two other dimensions.

See examples

True Perceptions of Area

Perception of area versus magnitude varies per person.

See examples

Grid Junk

The background grid is generally classified as junk.