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Data Design: Visualising Quantities, Locations, Connections
Accepted Manuscript Data Design, Per Mollerup, Bloomsbury Visual Arts, London, UK (2015), 176 pp., ISBN 9781408191873, $45.00 Dr. Luke Feast PII:
S2405-8726(15)30023-X
DOI:
10.1016/j.sheji.2015.11.001
Reference:
SHEJI 8
To appear in:
She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation
Received Date: 7 July 2015 Accepted Date: 13 November 2015
Please cite this article as: Feast L, Data Design, Per Mollerup, Bloomsbury Visual Arts, London, UK (2015), 176 pp., ISBN 9781408191873, $45.00, She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation (2015), doi: 10.1016/j.sheji.2015.11.001. This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
Title: Book Review of Data Design by Per Mollerup
AC C
EP
TE D
M AN U
SC
RI PT
Review by: Dr. Luke Feast, Department of Design, Aalto University, Finland
ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
Book Review
Data Design, Per Mollerup, Bloomsbury Visual Arts, London, UK (2015), 176 pp., ISBN
RI PT
9781408191873, $45.00
Everyday we deal with visual displays of information in reports, books, magazines, slide presentations, and on TV and digital media. And we rely on charts, maps, and diagrams to make decisions and get things done. Recently, large volumes of data have become
more easily accessible than ever, and the current enthusiasm for “Big Data” has made
SC
data visualisation a popular subject matter of design. However, the current fashions in infographics and data visualisation seem to more often aim to make data “stunning”
beautiful is very welcome.
M AN U
rather informing. So a book on making data visualisation useful rather than merely
Data Design makes a strong and clear attempt to describe the principles and practices of data visualisation needed to make data easily perceptible and comprehensible. The book describes the basic concepts needed to make visual displays that capture attention as well as display data in insightful, understandable, and
TE D
memorable ways.
Per Mollerup is Professor of Communication Design at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. He previously was owner and principle of Designlab in Copenhagen, a design consultancy specialising in wayshowing and branding. He has
EP
authored several books on design including books on space-saving objects and trademarks. This latest publication on visual display of data continues a string of recent books, beginning with one on slide presentations and then on wayshowing, which
AC C
provide principles and practical guidance on information design. The book concentrates on the principles of visual display of data. It is illustrated
with 200 data displays of 40 different formats of charts, maps and diagrams. There are explanations of the basic concepts of data design and there are instructive captions that provide guidance on details. The book is arranged in two parts. The first part is a short overview of the theory of good data visualisation. It begins with a chapter on the “Field of Study” that provides theory of data design, then the next chapter “Basics” introduces principles of perception and psychology for visual display design. The second part is a practical reference guide containing three chapters that present the practice of data
1
ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
design for visualising quantities, locations, and connections. Each type of display is concerned with answering particular questions such as “How do items compare?” or “How do we get from station A to B?” or “When did what happen?”. Each description of a display format describes concepts, gives instructions, and provides examples.
RI PT
On one hand, the book is very practical, no specialist tools are required, and by simply following the instructions and examples anyone could start designing better data displays straight away. On the other hand, the book also supports critical thinking
because it provides principles and critical questions. Data Design not a book of purely instrumental design methods. While the guidelines are presented clearly and
SC
unambiguously, the author also appeals for designers to use critical thinking and common sense. In fact, while the design of the book itself exemplifies the principles of
M AN U
data design, it also breaks the rules when appropriate.
Data Design is a useful reference guide that also explains the basic principles needed to do data visualisation effectively. The book is a slim 176 pages but with 200 displays it comes across as both parsimonious and comprehensive. And while the language used is economical, there still a smattering of Danish sarcasm to add some humour to the text. Someone wanting discussion of the history of information design or psychology of
TE D
visual perception may not find this book useful. And if it is decorative or complex displays that are desired, then this book is certainly not going to satisfy. Data Design is a book that provides instruction on data visualisation written by an expert on information design. It is unapologetically concerned with accuracy, simplicity, and
EP
clarity.
Data Design will probably appeal to graphic designers, human-machine communication designers, interaction designers, researchers, writers, editors, and
AC C
anyone wanting to present information in a clear and effective way. As the author succinctly states, “This book is not about data decoration.”
2
S2405-8726(15)30023-X
DOI:
10.1016/j.sheji.2015.11.001
Reference:
SHEJI 8
To appear in:
She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation
Received Date: 7 July 2015 Accepted Date: 13 November 2015
Please cite this article as: Feast L, Data Design, Per Mollerup, Bloomsbury Visual Arts, London, UK (2015), 176 pp., ISBN 9781408191873, $45.00, She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation (2015), doi: 10.1016/j.sheji.2015.11.001. This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
Title: Book Review of Data Design by Per Mollerup
AC C
EP
TE D
M AN U
SC
RI PT
Review by: Dr. Luke Feast, Department of Design, Aalto University, Finland
ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
Book Review
Data Design, Per Mollerup, Bloomsbury Visual Arts, London, UK (2015), 176 pp., ISBN
RI PT
9781408191873, $45.00
Everyday we deal with visual displays of information in reports, books, magazines, slide presentations, and on TV and digital media. And we rely on charts, maps, and diagrams to make decisions and get things done. Recently, large volumes of data have become
more easily accessible than ever, and the current enthusiasm for “Big Data” has made
SC
data visualisation a popular subject matter of design. However, the current fashions in infographics and data visualisation seem to more often aim to make data “stunning”
beautiful is very welcome.
M AN U
rather informing. So a book on making data visualisation useful rather than merely
Data Design makes a strong and clear attempt to describe the principles and practices of data visualisation needed to make data easily perceptible and comprehensible. The book describes the basic concepts needed to make visual displays that capture attention as well as display data in insightful, understandable, and
TE D
memorable ways.
Per Mollerup is Professor of Communication Design at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. He previously was owner and principle of Designlab in Copenhagen, a design consultancy specialising in wayshowing and branding. He has
EP
authored several books on design including books on space-saving objects and trademarks. This latest publication on visual display of data continues a string of recent books, beginning with one on slide presentations and then on wayshowing, which
AC C
provide principles and practical guidance on information design. The book concentrates on the principles of visual display of data. It is illustrated
with 200 data displays of 40 different formats of charts, maps and diagrams. There are explanations of the basic concepts of data design and there are instructive captions that provide guidance on details. The book is arranged in two parts. The first part is a short overview of the theory of good data visualisation. It begins with a chapter on the “Field of Study” that provides theory of data design, then the next chapter “Basics” introduces principles of perception and psychology for visual display design. The second part is a practical reference guide containing three chapters that present the practice of data
1
ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
design for visualising quantities, locations, and connections. Each type of display is concerned with answering particular questions such as “How do items compare?” or “How do we get from station A to B?” or “When did what happen?”. Each description of a display format describes concepts, gives instructions, and provides examples.
RI PT
On one hand, the book is very practical, no specialist tools are required, and by simply following the instructions and examples anyone could start designing better data displays straight away. On the other hand, the book also supports critical thinking
because it provides principles and critical questions. Data Design not a book of purely instrumental design methods. While the guidelines are presented clearly and
SC
unambiguously, the author also appeals for designers to use critical thinking and common sense. In fact, while the design of the book itself exemplifies the principles of
M AN U
data design, it also breaks the rules when appropriate.
Data Design is a useful reference guide that also explains the basic principles needed to do data visualisation effectively. The book is a slim 176 pages but with 200 displays it comes across as both parsimonious and comprehensive. And while the language used is economical, there still a smattering of Danish sarcasm to add some humour to the text. Someone wanting discussion of the history of information design or psychology of
TE D
visual perception may not find this book useful. And if it is decorative or complex displays that are desired, then this book is certainly not going to satisfy. Data Design is a book that provides instruction on data visualisation written by an expert on information design. It is unapologetically concerned with accuracy, simplicity, and
EP
clarity.
Data Design will probably appeal to graphic designers, human-machine communication designers, interaction designers, researchers, writers, editors, and
AC C
anyone wanting to present information in a clear and effective way. As the author succinctly states, “This book is not about data decoration.”
2