The visualization anatomy – data representation

The process of identifying the most effective and appropriate solution for representing our data is unquestionably the most important feature of our visualization design. Working on this layer involves making decisions that cut across the artistic and scientific foundations of the field.

Here we find ourselves face-to-face with the demands of achieving that ideal harmony of form and function that was outlined in the objectives section of Chapter 1, Context of Data Visualization. We need to achieve the elegance of a design that aesthetically suits our intent and the functional behavior required to fulfill the effective imparting of information.

What we're doing here is determining how we are going to show what it is we want to say. It is a difficult skill to master—something of a dark art—particularly given the set of factors we need to consider and the trade-offs we might need to make. Our task involves considering the following:

• Choosing the...