In a previous blog post titled “Potential Information Visualization Research Projects,” I announced that I would prepare a list of potential research projects that would address actual problems and needs that are faced by data visualization practitioners. So far I’ve prepared an initial 33-project list to seed an ongoing effort, which I’ll do my best […]

I’ll begin this blog article by answering the question that appears in the title. I’ve found that 100% bar graphs, designed in the conventional way, are only useful for a limited set of circumstances. Unlike normal stacked bars, the lengths of 100% stacked bars never vary, for they always add up to 100%. Consequently, when […]

People often speak of the “art and science” of data visualization without explanation, as if their meaning is obvious. In fact, it isn’t. What is the function of art in data visualization? Art might serve a role, but if it does, an explanation is needed. Several years ago when I was talking with Nancy Duarte, […]

Last month I spent a great deal of time thinking and writing about information visualization research, mostly bemoaning ways in which it usually misses the mark. A few days ago, Steven Franconeri of Northwestern University welcomed my invitation to talk about infovis research projects that would address real problems. When he asked if I already […]

I began this first workday of 2016 as usual, by walking my dogs and then reading the news while sipping coffee and eating a bowl of fruit. The world that I found in the news this morning is filled with the same tragedies that have assaulted us for years, but it was the hopeful bits […]