The Context of Data Visualization - Data Visualization: A Successful Design Process - page 11

The representation and presentation of data that exploits our visual perception abilities in
order to amplify cognition.
Let's take a closer look at the key elements of this definition to clarify its meaning;
these are as follows:
• The representation of data is the way you decide to depict data through
a choice of physical forms. Whether it is via a line, a bar, a circle, or any
other visual variable, you are taking data as the raw material and creating
a representation to best portray its attributes. We will cover this aspect of
design much more in Chapter 4 , Conceiving and Reasoning Visualization Design
Options and Chapter 5 , Taxonomy of Data Visualization Methods .
• The presentation of data goes beyond the representation of data and
concerns how you integrate your data representation into the overall
communicated work, including the choice of colors, annotations, and
interactive features. Similarly, this will be covered in depth in Chapter 4 ,
Conceiving and Reasoning Visualization Design Options .
• Exploiting our visual perception abilities relates to the scientific
understanding of how our eyes and brains process information most
effectively, as we've just discussed. This is about harnessing our abilities
with spatial reasoning, pattern recognition, and big-picture thinking.
• Amplify cognition is about maximizing how efficiently and effectively we
are able to process the information into thoughts, insights, and knowledge.
Ultimately, the objective of data visualization should be to make a reader or
users feel like they have become better informed about a subject.
The definition that I've put forward here is not dissimilar to the many others
articulated by authors, academics, and designers down the years. It is not intended
to offer a paradigm shift in our understanding of what this is all about. Rather, it
represents a personal perspective of the discipline influenced by many years of
experience teaching, practicing, and constantly studying the subject.
The fact that data visualization is such a dynamic and evolving field, with this
unique conjunction of art and science shaping its practice, means that a single,
perfect, and universally-agreed definition is always going to be difficult to
construct. However, this proposed definition should at least help you develop
an appreciation of the boundaries of data visualization and recognize when
something evolves into a different form of creative output.