Visualization Techniques and Practice

Big data can feel impersonal, overwhelming and cold. But stark statistics are now being used to make intimate statements through art and public advocacy.

The past few years have seen the widespread availability of a large amount of data, thanks largely to the internet.

Census reports are easily searchable, campaign polling is expertly parsed and analysed, and online dating behaviour provides a glimpse into human sexuality.

Now more artists are using these impersonal details to make an impassioned statement; visit the article link for examples.

Via Lauren Moss

Data Visualization is driven by data. Its form is often derived from optimizing the efficiency of inputting data (and information about that data) into a human brain. It is a very pragmatic practice, built around numbers and logic.

And yet it is beautiful. It evokes emotions. It can be aesthetically pleasing, or hideous. It communicates complex concepts and provokes thought. It is consumed for enjoyment. Some visualizations even share similarities with poetry.

There are several stages in the life cycle of data visualizations, and while the core of the practice is driven by rational thinking, any number of stages in the process have opportunities for subjective decisions or artistic interpretations...

Via Lauren Moss