Graphical Excellence was the topic that Edward
Tufte discussed within the first chapter of his book. He opened up this
discussion but introducing the habits one should have when creating a good data
visualization. Most of them were common sense such as: show the data, present
many numbers in small spaces, serve a reasonably clear purpose: description,
exploration, tabulation or decoration, etc. This lead the audience to a history
lesson where he showed data maps, time-series, space-time narrative, and
relation graphics. He gave examples, explained their concepts and informed
where these graphs originated.
I am not going to summarize what happened in
the reading; instead I rather write about and expand on the idea of
"graphical excellence, the efficient communication of complex quantitative
ideas". More specifically a graph that tells a story.
One of the principles of graphical excellence
is a "presentation of interesting data - a matter of substance, of
statistic and of design." Tufte pointed out that a relation graphics is
the greatest of all graphical design because it links at least two variables
together. What interests me about graphic is the fact that they can display any
relationship between any two sets of data. Whether it is solar radiation and
stock prices (page 15) or male death rate for lung cancer and per capita
consumption of cigarettes (page 47). Regardless of the topic (no matter how
silly) it how you present that idea that helps gets the point across. Yes the
statistics/ data is important but if your graph can't display that data
properly then the story is lost and the data that was collected is useless.
Here is a visual graph called “high altitude” by Michael Najjar.
He reshaped the mountains to represent the Hang
Seng Index. Since the graph doesn't show any numbers or any
headings, using a mountain as appealing as it is, wouldn't be the best choice
for this set of data.
This also goes the same for E.J.Marret, La
Methode Graphique on page 31. I can't even look at this graph without getting
headache. There is too much going on, and the only way I can see any data is if
I look closely at the graph and squint my eyes.
Some of the graphs that I took a liking to were
Hugh Newman Man and Insects (page 43) and Charles Joseph Minard graph (page
41). Both these graphs where very well designed in a sense where I find there
wasn't to much going on (everything was spaced out). They got their point
across and there stories told without any misinterpretation.
“Graphical excellence is that which gives the
viewer the greatest number of ideas in the shortest time with the least ink in
the smallest space.” What I get from
this is, the story can be told from any where within in the graph just as long
as the graph is well organized and designed (shows the data clearly that not
much ink is needed and not only does the design make it easier to read but in fact
the design of the graph tell the story itself, rather the data only tells the
story).
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