Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Simplicity is a fundamental tenet in all aspects of design and communication. Simplicity
is particularly important concerning the creation and display of quantitative information.
Most presenters, however, are afraid of simplicity, at least as far as showing data is
concerned. Perhaps this is because there exists a fundamental misunderstanding of
what it means to be simple today. Many people confuse simple with simplistic—that
which is watered down to the point of being deceptive or misleading. To some people,
the idea of simplicity means oversimplifying an issue to the point that the presentation
ignores complexities and creates obfuscation.
Ancient concepts of the Zen aesthetic still have much to teach us today concerning
simplicity. Practical suggestions exist in the
wabi sabi
concept—the aesthetic ideal at
the heart of many Zen arts including
sado
(the way of tea),
ikebana
(flower arranging),
and many others. In the topic
Wabi Sabi Simple
(Adams Media Corporation, 2004),
author Richard Powell offers advice derived from the simplicity of wabi sabi that we can
apply to design, including the design of quantitative displays.
Do only what is necessary to convey what is essential. In bonsai
and in haiku, you prune and trim what is nonessential in an attempt
to shorten the distance between the observer and the observed. You
carefully eliminate elements that distract from the essential whole,
elements that obstruct and obscure.... Clutter, bulk, and erudition
confuse perception and stifle comprehension, whereas simplicity
allows clear and direct attention.
If you replaced “bonsai” and “haiku” with “charts” and “graphs” in this passage, it makes
good advice for the presenter indeed. That is, we should do only what is necessary to
convey the essential information without excessive ornamentation, clutter, or anything
else that gets in the way of clear, direct attention to what's important.
Signal vs. noise
The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), a term borrowed from radio communications, is a useful
way of thinking about simplicity in the creation of charts and graphs. The SNR is easy to
understand. If you're old enough, think back when you used to drive your car while
listening to the news on the AM radio. When the broadcast came in loud and clear, you
were enjoying a good signal. But when you drove far away from the source, the signal
became weaker and the noise—an annoying static—became louder, making the content
difficult to hear. Eventually, the static (noise) increased so much that the faint signal and
understanding approached zero. All we wanted was to hear the news, but the low signal-
to-noise ratio made this impossible.
In the same way, overly complicated, poorly designed charts and graphs have a similar
effect on us. Think of the SNR in the visual world as the ratio of relevant to irrelevant
elements in a slide or other display.
SNR is a good general principle to keep in mind during all aspects of your design work,
