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Remember, though, design is rarely a neat, linear process and indeed some of
the stages may occasionally switch in sequence and require iteration. It is natural
that new factors can emerge at any stage and influence alternative solutions, so it
is important to be open-minded and flexible. Things might need to be revisited,
decisions reversed, and directions changed. What we are trying to do, where
possible, is find the best path through the minefield of design choices.
Some may feel uncomfortable at the prospect of following a process to undertake
what is fundamentally an iterative, creative design process. But I would argue
everyone should find value from working in a more organized and sequenced way
especially if it helps to reduce inefficiency and wasted resource.
The design challenges involved in data visualization are predominantly technology
related; the creation and execution of a visualization design will typically require
the assistance of a variety of applications and programs. However, the focus of
this methodology is intended to be technology-neutral, placing an emphasis on the
concepting, reasoning, and decision-making.
The variety, evolution, and generally fragmented nature of software in this field
(there is no single tool that can do everything) highlights the extra importance of
reasoned decision-making, regardless of the richness and power individual solutions
can offer.
Another key point to remark on is to emphasize, if it wasn't already clear, that data
visualization is not an exact science. There is rarely, if ever, a single right answer or
single best solution. It is much more about using heuristic methods to determine the
most satisfactory solutions.
On that note, the content of the methodology intentionally avoids any sense of
dogmatic instruction, preferring to focus on guidelines over explicit rules; sometimes
an ounce of chaos, a certain license to experiment, a leaning on instinct, and a sense
of randomness can spark greater creativity and serendipitous discovery.
The methodology is intended to be adopted flexibly, based on your own judgment
and discretion, by simply laying out all the important things you need to take into
account and proposing some potential solutions for different scenarios.
Finally, as I stressed with my definition of the subject earlier, I'm not suggesting
this is a ground-breaking new take on the creative process. It is merely a personal
interpretation based on experience and also exposure to the many brilliant people
out there who share their own design narratives. It is, though, consistent with how
most established observers of the subject would recommend you undertake this task.
Moreover, it is an approach that I fundamentally believe works and it has genuinely
helped me improve my own work since I've adopted it more deliberately, allowing
me to cut through projects with the efficiency and elegance I've always yearned for.
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