Foundations | Visualisation Design Principles (Mod. 4) Flashcards
How does real-world consistency contribute to the effectiveness of data visualizations, ensuring clear and accurate communication?
It makes the visualization relatable and understandable by aligning with real-world scenarios.
Real-world consistency helps viewers understand data by representing it in familiar ways. For example, using a time series with time on the x-axis or showing geographical data on a map allows the viewer to connect the data to their real-world knowledge and expectations, making the visualization easier to interpret.
Why is internal consistency crucial for the effectiveness of a data visualization?
It helps in maintaining a uniform visual language throughout the visualization.
Internal consistency ensures that visual elements like color, typography, symbols, and axes are used uniformly throughout the visualization. This cohesive design makes it easier for viewers to interpret and compare different parts of the data.
What is the primary goal of applying effective mapping techniques in data visualization to ensure accurate and clear communication of data?
To accurately represent the data and make it understandable to the audience.
The main objective of effective mapping techniques is to accurately represent the data while ensuring it is understandable to the audience. This involves choosing suitable visualizations (e.g., scatter plots for relationships or bar charts for comparisons) that highlight key patterns, trends, or insights in a clear and interpretable manner.
Explain what is the Lie Factor and what does it indicate about a visualisation.
It is a measure of the distortion present in a visualisation, calculated by the size of the effect shown in the graphic divided by the size of the effect in the data.
A lie factor close to 1 indicates minimal distortion and accurate representation of the data, while a factor significantly different from 1 suggests misrepresentation
In the example below, a 53% increase on real data is misrepresented through a visual increase of 783%, making the increase seem more dramatic than it really is.
What does the rule of thumb suggest regarding the number of information-carrying dimensions in relation to the number of data dimensions?
This can sometimes be referred to as size enconding.
The number of information-carrying dimensions should be less than or equal to the number of data dimensions.
For example, if you are showing a single dimension, using more complex visualizations like 2D or 3D is not appropriate.
Explain the concept of Data Ink Ratio and how should it be optimized for achivieving graphical excellence.
Data ink Ratio is defined as the ratio between ink used for representing data itself and total ink, the latter including that is not used to represent data.
This ratio represents the proportion of graphic’s ink that is devoted to non-redundant information, i.e. ink that brings new information.
Therefore, the goal should be to maximize the data ink ratio.
If we can remove ink from the graphical representation without losing information, then we have a good reason to do so and we will increase the data ink ratio.
Describe what is the concept of Data Density and how it relates to Graphical Excellence
It is the number of data points displayed within the area of the data graphic. Higher density can present more information in a given space.
The example below conveys several different dimensions in a single visual representation instead of using multiple charts.
Evaluate the data ink ratio of the given visualisation.
This visualisation has the highest ratio possible because we cannot erase any ink without resulting in loss of information.
Evaluate the data ink ratio of the given visualisation.
This visualisation has a very high ratio, perhaps 80-90%, because there is little ink that could be removed without resulting in loss of information. In other words, most of the ink is dedicated to representing the data itself.
One could remove the ticks and the axes line to increase data ink ratio.
What is the primary goal of maximizing the data-ink ratio in data visualization, as described by Edward Tufte?
To reduce non-essential ink and highlight the data
The goal of maximizing the data-ink ratio is to minimize the use of non-data ink, or extraneous graphical elements, which do not add to the understanding of the data. By reducing clutter and simplifying the design, the visualization directs the viewer’s attention to the data itself and enhances clarity.
What are the three key visual design guidelines? Briefly describe each.
The three main visual design guidelines are simplicity, consistency, and organisation.
1. Simplicity involves minimising the amount of information presented to make the tool easy to understand and recall.
2. Consistency means applying similar operations and using similar elements for similar tasks to leverage users’ past experiences.
3. Organisation involves structuring the information clearly so users can easily perceive order and relationships within the data.
Why is it important to discuss visual design in the context of data visualisation
Visual design is important because it helps developers and designers create tools that minimise the cognitive load on users, allowing them to focus on the data rather than figuring out the interface. Effective visual design ensures users can easily understand what they can do with the tool, where to find information, and how different data elements are related.
Explain the “macro/micro” principle in the context of dashboard design.
The “macro/micro” principle in dashboard design involves providing users with both a high-level overview of the data and the ability to drill down to see granular details. This allows users to grasp the overall trends and patterns while also being able to investigate specific data points within the broader context, often through synchronised views.
What is the primary rule of thumb to bear in mind when designing visualisations? Explain what this means
The primary rule of thumb in data visualisation is “function first, suave second.” This means that the most important aspect of a visualisation is its ability to effectively communicate the encoded information efficiently. Aesthetic appeal is secondary and should only enhance, not detract from, the visualisation’s primary function.
Explain the principle of “consistency” in visual design, and provide one example of internal consistency.
Consistency in visual design means using similar operations and visual elements to achieve similar tasks throughout the interface. An example of internal consistency is always using dialogue boxes to show information or allow user input across all parts of a software tool, ensuring a predictable user experience.
What is “natural ordering” in the context of visual properties, and why is it important to consider
Natural ordering refers to visual properties where our visual system automatically and unintentionally assigns an order or ranking to different values, independent of learning or culture (e.g., position, length). Considering natural ordering is crucial because it allows for intuitive encoding of quantitative or ordinal data, as the visual order directly corresponds to the data order.
