Visual Information graphics

Visual thinking – turning information into design

 Data often looks like a jumble of numbers which cannot be easily interpreted. There are a great number of charts in existence that are supposed to make things easier, but often the facts are disguised by these charts and can be misleading. Ugly plain charts are not interesting to look at, but at the same time an overly ‘pretty’ chart is not helpful either. A sprinkling of colour here and there needs to be done only if it is to create meaning not just to beautify it.

Charts are however an important way of presenting all sorts of data. Correlations between things such as, height and age can be shown on a chart, journeys, for example time and speed and tally’s of numbers of people in a category can all be shown in a clearer way on an effective chart.

Some visual communicators have made it their mission to develop new creative ways of showing data. The image below has been taken from the New York Times and shows how President Obama has divided the 2011 budget. Using a clear chart reader’s can easily see the proportions of each sector and look at exactly where the budget will be going. Colour use has been done to improve the charts clarity, showing the percent change from the 2010 budget. 

However it is important that although there is an element of visual stimulation the chart is legible.

Jer Thorp uses software to create visual information graphics. It is showing the most important news topics in 2008. This as a piece of art is stunning and exciting to look at, but as a personal opinion I find it hard to understand exactly what it is about and the sheer amount of illegible information along those tiny lines makes it difficult to dissect to anything useful, other than a pretty image.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/02/01/us/budget.html