Data Visualization talks

Data visualization is the presentation of data as charts, graphs, maps and other graphics so that patterns, trends and outliers become visible. A good visualization lets people understand in seconds what would take minutes to work out from a table of numbers.

For UI and product designers, data visualization matters whenever an interface shows numbers: analytics, reports, dashboards, progress or comparisons. Choosing the right form and removing clutter decides whether people understand the data or misread it.

The two talks here cover both the craft and its appeal. David McCandless’s TED talk The beauty of data visualization (2010) shows how visual design can make complex information clear. Des Traynor’s Creating Dashboards & Data Visualisations that Resonate (beyond tellerrand, 2012) focuses on visualisations in products. The dashboard pattern in the UI-Patterns.com library is a close relative.