Getting Tufte with Aesthetics and Data Density

Aesthetics

Tufte discusses ways to design maps with aesthetic concerns not only for how the map can be made to look nicer, but how aesthetics can be combined with the information being presented in the data to make a more effective map.

A clear order is established for the effectiveness of prose, tables, and graphics. In addition, there is discussion about how prose or tables can be made with some sort of graphic quality, such as the "data graphic" showing predictions versus actual numbers with words but in a graphic format. Tufte explains that data and graphics often compete against each other but should actually be used together to convey information. Words, though, should tell the viewer how to read the design of a graphic more than they should tell the user what to read from them.

Tufte also engages in a pretty intense discussion of the elements of the "friendly data graphic", in particular the manner in which serif fonts should be used (upper and lowercase letters), line widths should not all be the same, and graphics should favor a horizontal orientation.

He also seems quite pleased with himself on more than one occasion.


Data Density

Maps are just phenomenal at showing large amounts of data in a small space. Example after example of how we can see smaller and smaller things than the reader might have thought possible at first. Sadly, Tufte doesn't do much discussion of whether the user can actually interpret the information rather than just see it, but that's ok, because he's the expert.

Graphics with lots of information are better than graphics with little information, because graphic devoid of information leave the viewer questioning why there is so little information shown and what information has been left out. Fortunately, most graphics can be shrunk considerably thanks to the Shrink Principle, which states that "graphics can be shrunk way down."

He still seems quite pleased with himself.