Data & Visualizations

The dust has settled from SXSW 2011. I’ve had a chance to catch up on email, get over the conference crud I brought back, and my hearing in my right ear is slowly returning, so I thought now would be a good time to share some of the things that I learned at SXSW with you.

Data is the new black. These days everyone is releasing it, visualizing it, aggregating it, and mashing it up. And for good reason. Data is so much more than a stack of numbers or a server filled with client outputs. It can justify the work that your organization is doing, help others understand why it is critical, and offer exciting new ways to motivate others to help solve the problems your organization is working on.

As humans, we are visual creatures. We understand information best when presented visually (versus verbally). Below we discuss and share examples of how trends have shifted over time in the quest to communicate data effectively.

First there was Edward Tufte who revolutionized how information (particularly data) was presented on paper and screens. To learn more about Tufte's perspective on visual literacy and information design, visit edwardtufte.com.