Top 15 Data Visualization Tips

By Doug Henschen 01/03/2011 "Excellence in statistical graphics consists of complex ideas communicated with clarity, precision and efficiency," writes information visualization guru and author Edward R. Tufte. Preaching simplicity and offering practical advice, expert Stephen Few decries distorted 3D pie charts and graphics that are too hard to read. This image gallery offers best-practice examples, advice, free resources and insight from experts on the best of data and information visualization. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then clear and effective data visualizations are worth more than a stack of spreadsheets or reams of reports. Learn from the New York Times, Gapminder, Zillow, Many Eyes, Google, Wordle and other successful practitioners of advanced data visualization.

Complex Ideas Communicated With Clarity, Precision And Efficiency

"Excellence in statistical graphics consists of complex ideas communicated with clarity, precision and efficiency," writes information visualization guru and author Edward R. Tufte. Expert Stephen Few preaches simplicity, decrying distorted 3D pie charts and graphics that are too hard to read. This image gallery offers best-practice examples, advice, free resources and insight from experts on the best of data and information visualization. Visitors to NYTimes.com will find a treasure trove of superlative infographics, many of which tell a story through interaction with the data. Gapminder compares and contrasts the health and wealth of nations over time with time-series analyses. Zillow mashes up real estate data with maps to deliver insights into personal wealth and potential opportunities. IBM's Many Eyes Alphaworks project brings visibility to important social issues and to whatever data sets you care to upload. We also point you to industry experts and downloadable and Web-accessible resources that will help you hone your data visualization skills.