the machine influence on data design
DESCRIPTION
Interactive infographics and data visualizations are becoming ever more popular, and thankfully tools are being developed to simplify the process. But when you use a software product to help you generate data visualizations, does the software itself influence your design decisions? Talk by Trina Chiasson, Co-founder and CEO of Infoactive. Society for News Design Conference, 2013. Louisville, KY.TRANSCRIPT
The Machine Influence on Data DesignTrina Chiasson • @trinachi • infoactive.co
What is an infographic?
“It’s a really long jpeg”
“It’s a collection of charts, text, and images, combined to tell a data-driven story”
“A visual representation of data”
“I have absolutely no clue”
A graphic that presents information
INFOGRAPHIC:
Definitions of visual data engagement
Static Interactive Exploratory
Data visualizations are hard
Can software help?
September
1985
Microsoft Excel was born.
This changed the game, forever.
The perfect so!ware doesn’t exist
Resources are finite
Adventures in building datavis so!ware
http://slid.es/trinachiasson/deck/fullscreen/
https://infoactive.co
we can’t predict your creative process
As so!ware designers...
Every choice about what to build
is also a choice about what NOT to build
Our choices influence user behavior
User behavior influences our choices
Clean design
Customizationoptions
Sensible defaults
You can’t underestimate demand for
The Search for a Default Sandwich
The Which Wich Dilemma
I just want a sandwich
I don’t need to invent a new visualization format
I need something simple that works
Automatic chart generation
Restrictive by design
Fonts and color choices
Responsive position vs. freeform
“You’re not building a product. You’re building a testing tool.”
If I’m not falling, I’m not learning
Informed choices & measured learning
Testing and Research
We want to learn
Trina Chiasson • @trinachi • [email protected] fellow, cofounder & ceo of infoactive
Let’s ask questions