Data Points focuses on the approach to visualization and data. Visualization is a medium that can be used as a tool, art, a way to tell stories, etc., Data Points guides readers through making data approachable through visualization techniques and best practices. The focus is on designing with a purpose in mind. Data Points discusses why recipes (from the rules) work and expands on how readers can make their own recipes. The book is example-driven, featuring work from people in areas of art, design, business, statistics, computer science, cartography, and online media, as well as many of the author's own illustrations. The major sections of the book cover:
- Visualization as Medium -- In the same way not all movies are documentaries, not all visualization is about optimal visual perception.
- Data Representation -- There are rules across all visualization applications, such as the use of appropriate shapes to accurately represent values.
- Design with Purpose -- Rules can be broken though. It all depends on who and what you're designing for.
Data Points digs deep into the foundations of data visualization:
- Understanding Data and Visualization
- Representing Data
- Exploring Data Visually
- Designing for an Audience
- Visualizing with Clarity
- Putting Everything Into Practice with Tools and Resources
Introduction xv
1 Telling Stories with Data 1
More Than Numbers 2
What to Look For 8
Design 13
Wrapping Up 20
2 Handling Data 21
Gather Data 22
Formatting Data 38
Wrapping Up 52
3 Choosing Tools to Visualize Data 53
Out-of-the-Box Visualization 54
Programming 62
Illustration 76
Mapping 80
Survey Your Options 88
Wrapping Up 89
4 Visualizing Patterns over Time .91
What to Look for over Time 92
Discrete Points in Time 93
Continuous Data 118
Wrapping Up 132
5 Visualizing Proportions 135
What to Look for in Proportions 136
Parts of a Whole 136
Proportions over Time 161
Wrapping Up 178
6 Visualizing Relationships 179
What Relationships to Look For 180
Correlation 180
Distribution 200
Comparison 213
Wrapping Up 226
7 Spotting Differences 227
What to Look For 228
Comparing across Multiple Variables 228
Reducing Dimensions 258
Searching for Outliers 265
Wrapping Up 269
8 Visualizing Spatial Relationships 271
What to Look For 272
Specific Locations 272
Regions 285
Over Space and Time 302
Wrapping Up 325
9 Designing with a Purpose 327
Prepare Yourself 328
Prepare Your Readers 330
Visual Cues 334
Good Visualization 340
Wrapping Up 341
Index 343
