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CNN has an interview with Fernanda Viegas and Martin Wattenberg, the two minds behind Google’s ‘Big Picture’ project and gets them to discuss their own ideas of what comprises great visualizations.
“You cannot not communicate”
As this quote by designer Erik Spiekermann indicates, you have no choice: by the time the first data point hits the screen, you’re communicating. The catch: it’s a fallacy to think communication happens solely through the data you’re plotting. Even before viewers understand the data, they form strong impressions of the intended message based on colors, fonts, and the like.
Because visualizations are, well… visual, their design is a crucial part of what they communicate. This means that when you try your hardest to build a “neutral” visualization, with subdued tones and discreet type, you are in fact creating a specific mood: “This is serious, serious business.” As long as that’s a deliberate choice, you’re being true to your data and to your audience.
