CIS 3365 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Informa, Fine Structure, Statistical Graphics
16 Dec 2020
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Document Summary
Five principles in the theory of data graphics produce substantial changes in design. Above all show the data maximize the data-ink ratio erase non data-ink erase redundant data- ink. These principles apply to many graphics and yield a large series of design options. Ornamental hatching leading to chartjunk does not achieve the goals of its propagators. Graphics do not become attractive and interesting through chartjunk and ducks chartjunk can turn bores into disasters but it can never rescue a thin data set. The best designs are intriguing and curiosity-provoking, drawing the viewer into the wonder of data, sometimes by narrative power, sometimes by immense detail and sometimes by elegant presentation of simple but interesting data. No information, no sense of discovery, and no wonder is generated by chartjunk. Most of the graphic"s ink should vary only in response to data variation. Maximizing data-ink is but a single dimension of a complex design task.
