Book Image

Data Visualization: a successful design process

Book Image

Data Visualization: a successful design process

Overview of this book

Do you want to create more attractive charts? Or do you have huge data sets and need to unearth the key insights in a visual manner? Data visualization is the representation and presentation of data, using proven design techniques to bring alive the patterns, stories and key insights locked away."Data Visualization: a Successful Design Process" explores the unique fusion of art and science that is data visualization; a discipline for which instinct alone is insufficient for you to succeed in enabling audiences to discover key trends, insights and discoveries from your data. This book will equip you with the key techniques required to overcome contemporary data visualization challenges. You'll discover a proven design methodology that helps you develop invaluable knowledge and practical capabilities.You'll never again settle for a default Excel chart or resort to "fancy-looking" graphs. You will be able to work from the starting point of acquiring, preparing and familiarizing with your data, right through to concept design. Choose your "killer" visual representation to engage and inform your audience."Data Visualization: a Successful Design Process" will inspire you to relish any visualization project with greater confidence and bullish know-how; turning challenges into exciting design opportunities.
Table of Contents (13 chapters)
Data Visualization: a successful design process
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

The importance of editorial focus


The following is a quote from Edward Tufte (http://adage.com/article/adagestat/edward-tufte-adagestat-q-a/230884/):

"Good content reasoners and presenters are rare, designers are not."

In Chapter 2, Setting the Purpose and Identifying Key Factors, we looked at some of the considerations involved in identifying the purpose behind your visualization project; these are as follows:

  • What is the reason for its existence?

  • For whom are we creating it and how well defined are the requirements?

  • What function is it seeking to fulfill?

  • What is the likely tone of the design we're intending to portray?

Over the course of the full design process, it is possible that these initial definitions may need to be modified. As we learn more deeply about the relationship between what we want to do, what we can do and, importantly, what we should do, our creative proposition may be molded into a slightly shape.

That's fine and is to be expected. However, the earlier we can make firm judgments...