I. Introduction
In the last article, we have systematically explained the definition of data visualization, what is a good data visualization? And the first principle of data visualization design-faith; the second principle-reach.
Today, we first explain the last basic principle of data visualization-elegance.
2. The third basic principle of data visualization-elegance
The third basic principle of data visualization-elegance, that is, the design can make people visually pleasing to the eye.
If it is said that even beginners can achieve "faith" and "da" through constraints and personal efforts, then the realization of "elegance" requires long-term precipitation and aesthetic influence!
Here, the author will take you to appreciate some data visualization works that can be called "elegant":
1. Orderly interweaving of color and density
Take a look at the picture below, is it full of high-level sense?
This is the Wind Map by Ferranda Viegas and Martin Wattenberg. They use visualization as a tool and expression to draw the flow patterns of wind across the United States.
It is not difficult to see that this visual chart of wind speed in the United States outlines all the information through only two elements (color and line).
As far as color is concerned, we know that to create a high-end sense and texture of a chart, you usually need to choose: black, gray + gradient/light and other plain colors. In this case, the United States is outlined in pure black, and the white lines focus on the wind speed. , Wind direction and other information, without too much color embellishment, giving people a sense of redundancy.
In terms of density, the more concentrated the white lines on the map, the greater the wind speed. The wind direction can also be displayed intuitively through the line trend.
Based on the centralized display of the above information, Ferlanda Viegas and Martin Wattenberg began to request the interactive effects of visualization charts. They obtained weather data from the National Forecast Database of the United States. Collect, and then access real-time data based on the visualization chart, and update it every hour; the public can directly view the wind speed of the location through the interactive chart on the website, just hover the mouse somewhere, the interactive chart can be Show the wind speed and direction of the place.
From the above example, it is not difficult to see the author's extreme use of color, density and other detailed composition elements. The whole picture is clear at a glance, and there are no redundant coordinates or text prompts; this is also the same as the data mentioned in our previous article. The second basic principle of visualization-reach, echo together (a good visualization work should maximize the proportion of data and ink in advance, and remove all unnecessary parts).
2. Motion effect and interaction, make your picture move
As shown below, it is a pyramid chart of death toll selected from the United States Statistical Illustrated Book published in 1874. The length of the table shows the distribution of deaths in different age groups and genders in each state; the horizontal axis of each chart represents deaths with a linear ruler. The number of people, and the vertical axis shows age groups by numbers.
Although we can get the number of deaths and changes in the age of death that year through the pyramid chart of each year, it is still very difficult to get the overall change in the number of deaths in the United States over the past 20 years (this requires a horizontal comparison of each year The trend of the pyramid chart, compared with 20 years, this visual fatigue is not a little bit...).
At this point, it is necessary to make your pyramid chart move. After reading the above picture, then look at the following case, is it much clearer?
The picture below is from Pew’s "Future America" project, which takes a comprehensive review of the demographic data of the United States and compiles it into a large and beautiful interactive data visualization project, consisting of some "chapters" that use straightforward visualization "composition.
They are all pyramid diagrams. Is the difference between dynamic and non-dynamic effects clear at a glance? Obviously, the dynamic effects can show the demographic trends that change with age, and effectively reduce the audience’s visual fatigue. This is also one of the connotations of “elegance”, allowing the audience to get the most in the shortest time. Potential information.
You can refer to these two books:
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information [by Edward Tufte]; a concise but classic book. The concept of data ink involved in our previous elaboration on the principle of "trust" was proposed by the author of the book, Edward Tufte. From then on, the visualization There is a clear and reliable quantitative standard for measuring the clarity of works and the use of data.
Information Visualization ,Third Edition: Perception for Design [by Colin Ware]; The book is relatively old, but the classic content in it is still valuable for reference. For example, psychological perception, human vision, and the underlying operation of the brain are all relevant to the design of current data visualization works. great help.
Fourth, the conclusion
In this issue, the author brings you the last basic principle of data visualization design-elegant, I believe you have mastered it, and the other two basic principles, I have explained to you in the second issue of the previous issue.