Transcript Support Analytical Thinking

Visualizing Data
and Information
Holly Nielsen
Jason Pasinetti
Content - Do I have the right information to think about this issue?
Credibility – Can I trust this information?
Design – Am I seeing the data or the design?
Content Counts Most of All
How can I help someone
think about this issue?
Are coal mines safer today than in the past?
# of U.S. Coal Mining Fatalities
1900-2007
3,500
# of U.S. Coal Mining Fatalities per 200,000 FTEs
1900-2007
600
3,000
500
2,500
400
2,000
300
1,500
200
1,000
500
100
0
0
1900
1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
1900
1920
1940
Mine Safety and Health Administration: www.msha.gov/s tats/centurystats/coalstats.asp
1960
1980
2000
Be Credible
Include units and scale.
Financial data should be in consistent currency and deflated. Use the Higher Education
Price Index.
Put you name on your work so people can judge your credibility and ask questions if
you are not available when they read your analysis.
Use large data sets.
Source your data. Provide the whole data set.
Graphical elements that represent data should
change at the same rate as the data.
Teach, don’t pitch.
Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Tufte, 1983
Design Counts
In order to take advantage of visual understanding, the content needs to be arranged
in space instead of time.
If we are using paper or an electronic screen to display the information, we are now
limited to two dimensions. Every drop of ink or pixel counts.
Design is about making choices. Every element we add to the display interacts with
and competes with every other element. The choices we make about how we display
our content directly affects the clarity and accessibility of that content.
Design Counts
Am I going to make it?
From Tufte’s website, www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/
Original Data , Hermann Brenner, "Long-term survival rates of cancer patients achieved by the end of the 20th century: a period analysis," The Lancet, 360 (October 12, 2002), 1131-1135.
Design Counts
From Tufte’s website, www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/
Original Data , Hermann Brenner, "Long-term survival rates of cancer patients achieved by the end of the 20th century: a period analysis," The Lancet, 360 (October 12, 2002), 1131-1135.
Support Analytical Thinking
Compared to what?
Show comparisons
Show causality
Show multi-variant information (more than 1 or 2 variables)
Add detail to clarify
# of Coal Mining Fatalities by State
1996 - 2007
State
State
Total
West Virginia
120
Kentucky
107
Virginia
34
Alabama
33
Pennsylvania
26
Utah
23
Indiana
11
Illinois
10
Wyoming
8
Colorado
6
Ohio
6
Maryland
5
Texas
4
Arizona
3
New Mexico
2
Oklahoma
2
Tennessee
2
Arkansas
1
Montana
1
North Dakota
1
Yearly Total
405
# of Coal Mining Fatalities by State
1996 - 2007
State
West Virginia
Kentucky
Virginia
Alabama
Pennsylvania
Utah
Indiana
Illinois
Wyoming
Colorado
Ohio
Maryland
Texas
Arizona
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Arkansas
Montana
North Dakota
Yearly Total
State
2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 Total
12 120
7
7
9
9
13
6
10
12
3
23
9
12 107
5
12
9
13
5
9
9
6
8
16
2
1
34
2
5
5
5
4
2
4
3
3
1
33
2
1
1
2
14
1
1
2
4
2
2
1
26
3
4
1
2
2
1
3
1
1
4
1
1
2
23
2
3
4
1
2
1
10
11
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
3
10
2
1
1
2
1
3
8
1
1
2
1
2
1
6
1
2
1
1
1
6
1
2
2
1
5
1
1
1
2
4
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
38 405
30
29
35
38
42
27
30
28
23
47
33
5
Mine Safety and Health Administration: www.msha.gov/stats/charts/coalbystate.asp
Do I need a graph?
If the data set is small, use text or a well organized table.
Sort tables by some meaningful field.
Performance data should be presented in a table like the sports page or the financial
page of most newspapers.
Percent of Top 10 Fatal Coal Mining Incident Causes by Location
1995 - 2007
Percent of Top 10 Fatal Coal Mining Incident
Causes for Surface Location 1995 - 2007
Powered Haulage
7%
5%
Machinery
7%
7%
47%
Roof Fall
Electrical
27%
Fall of Roof
Cause
Surface Underground Both Locations
Powered Haulage
47%
28%
35%
Machinery
27%
16%
21%
Roof Fall
0%
27%
17%
Electrical
7%
10%
9%
Fall of Roof
0%
8%
5%
Fall of Roof or Back
0%
7%
4%
Fall of Highwall
7%
1%
3%
Fall of Person
6%
0%
2%
Slip/Fall of Person
5%
1%
2%
Rib Fall
0%
3%
2%
Mine Safety and Health Administration: www.msha.gov/fatals/fabc.htm
Time for a Graph
Fatal Coal Mining Incidents
1995 - 2007
Many people’s design
solution for large multivariant data sets is to
remove data.
But what if we need the
detail to think about the
problem?
Date
12/12/07
12/04/07
11/16/07
11/12/07
11/05/07
11/04/07
10/28/07
10/20/07
09/16/07
09/03/07
08/16/07
08/10/07
08/06/07
08/04/07
07/30/07
07/16/07
07/02/07
04/17/07
04/05/07
03/12/07
01/13/07
01/06/07
12/17/06
11/28/06
11/05/06
11/04/06
10/30/06
10/23/06
10/20/06
10/12/06
10/06/06
07/30/06
07/20/06
07/18/06
07/07/06
05/24/06
05/23/06
05/20/06
05/04/06
04/21/06
04/20/06
04/07/06
04/07/06
03/29/06
02/17/06
02/16/06
02/01/06
02/01/06
01/29/06
01/23/06
01/19/06
01/10/06
01/02/06
12/30/05
12/15/05
12/12/05
12/09/05
12/06/05
11/08/05
11/04/05
08/19/05
08/18/05
08/10/05
08/03/05
07/12/05
06/10/05
06/10/05
06/06/05
06/01/05
05/11/05
04/21/05
03/31/05
03/29/05
02/16/05
12/28/04
12/21/04
12/02/04
11/20/04
11/09/04
10/23/04
10/01/04
09/26/04
09/24/04
09/24/04
08/29/04
08/17/04
08/02/04
06/17/04
06/16/04
06/16/04
06/10/04
05/18/04
04/22/04
04/03/04
03/12/04
03/02/04
02/10/04
02/10/04
Location
Underground
Surface at Underground
Surface
Underground
Surface
Facility
Underground
Underground
Surface at Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Other
Surface
Surface
Surface
Underground
Surface
Underground
Underground
Underground
Surface
Surface
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Facility
Surface
Surface
Facility
Underground
Open Pit
Underground
Surface
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Surface
Underground
Surface
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Surface
Surface
Surface
Surface
Surface
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Facility
Underground
Underground
Mill/Prep Plant
Surface
Underground
Surface
Bituminous
Bituminous
Bituminous
Anthracite
Underground
Underground
Other
Open Pit
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Underground
Office
Underground
Underground
Underground
Surface
Surface
Surface
Underground
Cause
Powered Haulage
Slip or Fall of Person
Powered Haulage
Machinery
Machinery
Slip or Fall of Person
Falling, Rolling, Sliding Rock/Material
Powered Haulage
Slip or Fall of Person
Fall of Roof
Fall of Face or Rib
Slip or Fall of Persons
Fall of Face or Rib
Machinery
Slip or Fall of Person
Explosives and Breaking Agents
Powered Haulage
Fall of Highwall
Stepping or Kneeling on Object
Machinery
Fall of Roof
Handling Material
Fall of Roof
Powered Haulage
Electrical
Powered Haulage
Powered Haulage
Ignition or Explosion of Gas or Dust
Fall of Face/ Rib/Highwall
Fall of Roof
Fall of Roof
Exploding Vessels Under Pressure
Machinery
Fall of Face/Rib/Highwall
Machinery
Powered Haulage
Powered Haulage
Ignition/Explosion of Gas/Dust
Electrical
Machinery
Fall of Roof or Back
Powered Haulage
Powered Haulage
Fall of Roof or Back
Powered Haulage
Fall of Roof or Back
Fall of Face, Rib, Pillar or Highwall
Fire
Fall of Face, Rib, Pillar or Highwall
Powered Haulage
Fire
Fall of Roof or Back
Ignition/Explosion of Gas/Dust
Powered Haulage
Fall of Roof or Back
Fall of Roof or Back
Slip or Fall of Person
Powered Haulage
Powered Haulage
Electrical
Powered Haulage
Machinery
Fall of Roof or Back
Fall of Roof
Fall of Roof
Powered Haulage
Fall of Roof
Fall of Roof
Powered Haulage
Powered Haulage
Powered Haulage
Roof Fall
Powered Haulage
Slip or Fall of Person
Machinery
Machinery
Machinery
Fall of Face/Rib/Highwall
Powered Haulage
Electrical
Powered Haulage
Powered Haulage
Electrical
Machinery
Electrical
Fall of Face, Rib, Pillar or Highwall
Fall of Roof or Back
Fall of Roof or Back
Powered Haulage
Fall of Roof or Back
Powered Haulage
Machinery
Powered Haulage
Machinery
Machinery
Falling/Sliding/Rolling Material
Powered Haulage
Powered Haulage
# of Fatalities
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
6
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
12
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
State
Utah
West Virginia
Oklahoma
New Mexico
Texas
West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia
Utah
Indiana
Utah
West Virginia
Alabama
Kentucky
Alabama
Maryland
Pennsylvania
Kentucky
West Virginia
Colorado
West Virginia
Montana
Arizona
Kentucky
West Virginia
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
Alabama
Kentucky
West Virginia
Kentucky
Kentucky
Kentucky
West Virginia
Kentucky
Kentucky
Virginia
Kentucky
Kentucky
West Virginia
West Virginia
Alabama
Maryland
Kentucky
West Virginia
West Virginia
Utah
Kentucky
West Virginia
Kentucky
West Virginia
Kentucky
West Virginia
Pennsylvania
Wyoming
Pennsylvania
Maryland
Kentucky
Kentucky
Pennsylvania
Alabama
Kentucky
Alabama
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Oklahoma
Alabama
West Virginia
Kentucky
West Virginia
Kentucky
Alabama
Kentucky
Tennesse
West Virginia
West Virginia
Kentucky
Virginia
Pennsylvania
Virginia
Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia
Kentucky
Kentucky
Alabama
Kentucky
West Virginia
Indiana
Alabama
West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia
Company
C. W. Mining Co.
Mammoth Coal Company
Farrell-Cooper Mining Company
San Juan Coal Company
The North American Coal Corp.
Weatherby Processing Corp
Long Branch Energy
Carter Roag Coal Company
Mingo Logan Coal Company
Consol of KY Inc
Genwal Resources Inc.
Gibson County Coal, LLC
Genwal Resources Inc.
Rockhouse Creek Development, LLC
Jim Walter Resources, Inc.
CAM Mining LLC
Twin Pines Coal Company Inc
Tri-Star Mining Inc
Eighty Four Mining Company
Double E Augering Inc
Brooks Run Mining Company LLC
Oxbow Mining, LLC
Dana Mining Company Inc.
Spring Creek Coal Company
Peabody Western Coal Company
McCoy Elkhorn Coal Corp
Double Bonus Coal Company
R & D Coal Co Inc
Kingwood Mining Company LLC
Jim Walter Resources Inc
D & R Coal Co., Inc.
Carter Roag Coal Company
CAM Mining LLC
Hendrickson Equipment Inc
Hopkins County Coal LLC
Wolf Run Mining Company
Miller Bros Coal LLC
Kentucky Darby LLC
Consolidation Coal Company
Lone Mountain Processing Inc.
Tri Star Coal L.L.C.
Jacob Mining Co., LLC
Mystic LLC
Jim Walter Resources Inc.
Mettiki Coal LLC
Perry County Coal Corp.
Long Branch Energy
Elk Run Coal company Inc.
Andalex Resources Inc
Sassy Coal Co., Inc.
Aracoma Coal Company Inc
Maverick Mining Company, LLC
Anker West Virginia Mining Company Inc
H & D Mining Inc
Arjay Mining Inc
Rosebud Mining Company
Pacific Minerals
Reading Anthracite Company
Mettiki Coal, L.L.C.
Enterprise Mining Company, L. L. C.
Bell County Coal Corporation
Thomas J. Smith, Inc.
Drummond Company, Inc.
Stillhouse Mining LLC
Sunrise Coal Co., LLC
Tusky Coal LLC
Rosebud Mining Co.
South Central Coal Company, Inc.
The Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company
Consolidation Coal Company
Central Appalachia Mining, LLC
Coal River Mining LLC
Rockhouse Energy Mining Company (Massey)
Greenfuels Processing Inc., LLC
ICG Knott County LLC
Tennco Inc
Catenary Coal Company
Endurance Mining Co.
J R Mining
Omega Mining, Inc.
Jeddo Coal Company
Consolidation Coal Co.
Cumberland River Coal Co.
Wilson & Wilson
Hobet Mining Inc.
McElroy Coal Company
Reedy Coal Co. Inc.
Dags Branch Coal Company, Inc.
Jim Walter Resources, Inc.
Bell County Coal Corporation
Tug Valley Coal Processing Company
Black Beauty Coal Company
Jim Walter Resources, Inc.
Brooks Run Mining Company LLC
Simmons Fork Mining, Inc.
Brooks Run Mining Company LLC
Colony Bay Coal Company
Raw Coal Mining Company, Inc.
Mine
Bear Canyon #4
No 130 Mine
Rock Island Mine
San Juan Mine 1
San Miguel Lignite Mine
Remington Preparation Plant
Mine No. 23
Pleasant Hill Mine
Mountaineer II Mine
Bronzite
Crandall Canyon Mine
Gibson Mine
Crandall Canyon Mine
No. 8
No. 3 Mine
Three Mile Mine #1
Mine #2
Job #3
Mine 84
No. 3
Cucumber Mine
Elk Creek Mine
Prime No. 1
Spring Creek Coal Company
Kayenta Mine
Mine #23
Bluestone Industries Inc
R & D Coal Co. Inc
Whitetail Kittanning Mine
No 7 Mine
Mine No. 2
Star Bridge Preparation Plant - Rail Load
Slate Branch
Smith Branch No. 1
East Volunteer
Sycamore Mine No. 2
Risner Branch #1
Darby Mine No. 1
Buchanan Mine #1
Huff Creek No 1
No. 1
No. 1 Mine
Candice #2
No. 4 Mine
Mettiki Mine
HZ4 - 1
#18 Tunnel Mine
Black Castle Mine
Aberdeen Mine
No. 4 Mine
Aracoma Alma Mine #1
Mine #1
Sago Mine
Mine No 3
Adkins Branch Mine No 1A
Logansport Mine
Bridger Underground Coal Mine
Wadesville P-33
Mountain View Mine #1
Mine #1
Preparation Plant
Smith No. 1 Mine
Shoal Creek Mine
Mine No 1
NEWCO #1
Tusky #1 Mine
Tracy Lynne Mine
South Central Mine
North River # 1 Underground Mine
Shoemaker Mine
Point Rock Plant
Tiny Creek No. 2
Mine #1
Kellerman Prep Plant
Supreme Energy Prep Plant
Valley Creek Mine No. 2
Samples Mine
Red Cedar Surface Mine
Grays Fork
Southern Crescent Mine
Jeddo No 8 Preparation Plant
Buchanan #1 Mine
Fork Ridge Mine
Barrackville Refuse Pile
Hobet 21 Surface Mine
McElroy Mine
Mine No. 25
No. 6
No. 7 Mine
Coal Creek
Tug Valley Coal Processing Company
Air Quality #1 Mine
No. 7 Mine
Mercer Deep Mine
Paynter Branch Surface Mine
Brooks Run Processing Plant No. 1
Colony Bay Surface Mine
Cucumber Mine
Mine Safety and Health Administration: www.msha.gov/fatals/fabc.htm
Time for a Graph
Minimize Non-data Ink,
Maximize Data Density
West Virginia Coal Mine Fatalities
1900 - 2007 (YTD - 12-17-07)
686 Fatalities - 1925
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
2007 Fatal Coal mine Accident Alert #32, Author Unknown
1980
1990
2000
Minimize Non-data Ink,
Maximize Data Density
West Virginia Coal Mine Fatalities
1989 - 2007 (YTD - 12-17-07)
24
Total = 217
19 Year Period
20
16
12
23
22
18
8
4
13
8
16
13
10
13
12
7 6
12
9 9
9
8
6
3
0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
2007 Fatal Coal mine Accident Alert #32, Author Unknown
Minimize Non-data Ink to
Maximize Data Density
1900 - 2007
1995 - 2007
4,000
# of Coal Mining
Fatalities
50
40
3,000
30
2,000
20
1,000
0
1900
10
1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
1,000
# of Coal Miners
in Thousands
2005
2000
2005
120
800
100
600
80
400
60
0
1900
2000
140
40
200
Coal Mining
Fatality Rate per
200,000 FTEs
0
1995
20
1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
0
1995
600
50
500
40
400
30
300
20
200
10
100
0
1900
1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
0
1995
2000
Mine Safety and Health Administration: www.msha.gov/stats/centurystats/coalstats.asp
2005
Minimize Non-data Ink to
Maximize Data Density
1+1=3. Closely spaced lines activate the space between them. This causes a visual
vibration that attracts the eye. Avoid hatching and grids. A point is formed anywhere two
lines cross.
All guide lines should be minimized if not eliminated.
Avoid keys and legends. Do not make people decipher the graph. Label data directly.
Labels in English should usually read horizontally regardless of the axis.
# of Coal Mining Fatalities by State
1996 - 2007
State
West Virginia
Kentucky
Virginia
Alabama
Pennsylvania
Utah
Indiana
Illinois
Wyoming
Colorado
Ohio
Maryland
Texas
Arizona
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Arkansas
Montana
North Dakota
Yearly Total
State
2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 Total
9
23
3
12
10
6
13
9
9
7
7
12 120
1
2
16
8
6
9
9
5
13
9
12
5
12 107
1
3
3
4
2
4
5
5
5
2
34
1
2
2
4
2
1
1
14
2
1
1
2
33
2
1
1
4
1
1
3
1
2
2
1
4
3
26
10
1
2
1
4
3
2
23
3
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
11
3
1
2
1
1
2
10
1
2
1
2
1
1
8
1
1
1
2
1
6
1
2
2
1
6
2
1
1
1
5
1
1
1
1
4
1
1
1
3
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
5
33
47
23
28
30
27
42
38
35
29
30
38 405
# of Coal Mining Fatalities by State
1996 - 2007
State
West Virginia
Kentucky
Virginia
Alabama
Pennsylvania
Utah
Indiana
Illinois
Wyoming
Colorado
Ohio
Maryland
Texas
Arizona
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Arkansas
Montana
North Dakota
Yearly Total
State
2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 Total
9
23
3
12
10
6
13
9
9
7
7
12 120
1
2
16
8
6
9
9
5
13
9
12
5
12 107
1
3
3
4
2
4
5
5
5
2
34
1
2
2
4
2
1
1
14
2
1
1
2
33
2
1
1
4
1
1
3
1
2
2
1
4
3
26
10
1
2
1
4
3
2
23
3
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
11
3
1
2
1
1
2
10
1
2
1
2
1
1
8
1
1
1
2
1
6
1
2
2
1
6
2
1
1
1
5
1
1
1
1
4
1
1
1
3
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
5
33
47
23
28
30
27
42
38
35
29
30
38 405
Mine Safety and Health Administration: www.msha.gov/stats/charts/coalbystate.asp
Aspect Ratio: Spiky vs. Lumpy Data
Generally use an aspect
ration of 1 height to 1.5
width.
Adjusting the aspect ratio
can help expose cycles in
time series data.
Ideally, the average slop of
the lines should average 45
degrees.
Practically, make the data
look more lumpy than spiky.
Cleveland, W.S., 1994. The Elements of Graphing Data, revised edition. Murray Hill, NJ: AT&T Bell
Laboratories, pp. 66–79.
Using Color
Colors are a very strong visual element use them sparingly and with
care. Be cognizant of contrast and color interaction.
Use colors found in nature. Especially light blues, yellows, grays,
greens and tans.
Use saturation to show increase in value. The increase in saturation
should match the increase in the data.
Use a very light border to separate interacting zones of colors.
Avoid strong colors close to one another with white space. Avoid
rainbow encoding.
Layering and Separation
Coal Mining Fatality Rate
per 200,000 FTEs
Year of Sago
Mine Disaster
45
Annotate, but use
light guidelines.
40
35
30
25
Show data and
information in
parallel to invite
comparison.
20
15
10
5
0
1995
2000
2005
Clinton
Administration
Bush
Administration
Mine Safety and Health Administration: www.msha.gov/stats/centurystats/coalstats.asp
Use Area and Volume Cautiously
Do not depict more dimensions than there are variables in your data.
Avoid shading and 3-D effects. Do not hide one data behind another’s 3-D effect.
We have a hard time estimating area, especially radial area in circles, cones, and spheres.
Make sure the area changes at the proportion as the data it depicts.
What do you do when a bound area defines a region relates to but is not changed by
another variable?
Use Area and Volume Cautiously
Was this the American political landscape in 2004?
Use Area and Volume Cautiously
But now we loose the political and
geographic boundaries.
Visualizing Data for the Masses: Information Graphics at The New York Times
Matthew Ericson , Deputy Graphics Director, The New York Times
Use Area and Volume Cautiously
This map shows population
density much better.
But what about political
reality?
This map show how that
translates to our political
system.
Visualizing Data for the Masses: Information Graphics at The New York Times
Matthew Ericson , Deputy Graphics Director, The New York Times
Macro/Micro Readings
Macro/Micro Readings
Use Small Multiples
Coal mining Fatalities for Top 6 States
1996 - 2007
West Virginia
Kentucky
Well designed data
graphs can be
shrunk way down.
This allows us to
show change using
space instead of
time.
Do not use frames.
The scales become
the frames. Show
the change in data,
not the design.
25
25
20
20
15
15
10
10
5
5
0
1996
0
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
1998
Virginia
25
20
20
15
15
10
10
5
5
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
0
1996
1998
Pennsylvania
25
20
20
15
15
10
10
5
5
0
1996
0
1996
2000
2002
2004
2006
2004
2000
2002
2004
2006
2004
2006
Utah
25
1998
2002
Alabama
25
0
1996
2000
2006
1998
2000
2002
Mine Safety and Health Administration: www.msha.gov/stats/charts/coalbystate.asp
Integrate Word, Number, and Image
Do not segregate content by
means of production.
Avoid referencing figures far
away from text analysis. Put the
visual close to the text.
From Tufte’s website,
www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/
Use a simple, intense, word-sized
graphic like a sparkline.
From Bissantz’s website,
www.bissantz.de/
Mapping Relationships
When mapping networks,
project , or workflows, think
about the nature of the
relationships.
Avoid shapes. Label directly
and annotate, especially the
relationships.
Mark Lombardi george w. bush, harken energy, and
jackson stevens c.1979-90, 5th version, 1999
Mapping Relationships
Prophets, Practitioners, and Toolmakers
The long shadow: Tufte
The new kids on the block: Few, Many Eyes, Bissantz, NYT Graphics Department
Do not forfeit your design to software or templates
Excel: hammering a samurai sword out of a butter knife
Look for design inspiration. Talent imitates, but genius steals
Steal
Avoid
Elite Newspapers
New York Times
Wall Street Journal
Elite Science Journals
Nature
Science
TV
Lawyers
Marketing/PR
Politicians
Seeing the Trees in the Forest
A rage to conclude: trends, averages, forecasts, overreaching, and recency bias
Graphs are powerful but not magic. Aid decision making don’t short cut it.
The Oracle only has answers. You have to ask the right questions.
Fatalities are people
Seeing the Trees in the Forest
Questions?
Aesthetics
“When I am working on a problem I never think about beauty. I only think about
how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not
beautiful, I know it is wrong.”
Buckminster Fuller
West Virginia Coal Mine Fatalities
1989 - 2007 (YTD - 12-17-07)
24
Total = 217
19 Year Period
20
16
12
23
22
18
8
4
13
8
16
13
10
13
12
7 6
12
9 9
9
8
6
3
0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Table Exercises
1. Think about the situation. Read the background material
(it is only background; it will not contain all the detail you
want to think about).
2. What questions need to be asked to understand the
issues?
3. After you decide what info you need, what would be some
good ways to show it? (show as different visualizations)
4. You have 30 minutes to discuss. At the end of the 30
minutes, one person per table needs to give a one minute
report out to the group.