Week 2 - Fundamentals of data Visualisation and design

Question 1

two main types of data

Answer 1

quantitative and qualitative

Question 2

qualitative data

Answer 2

categorical

Question 3

quantitative data

Answer 3

numerical can be divided into:
1. continuous (time, weight)
2. discrete (number count)

Question 4

types of aesthetics for design

Answer 4

1. position
2. shape
3. size
4. colour
5. line width
6. line type

Question 5

Mapping variables to aesthetics

Answer 5

The process by which we take data (qual or quant) and map it to visual elements (ie, shape, size )

typically done through the use of a SCALE

For example, one day of time is equal to one pixel in the visualisation

Question 6

scale

Answer 6

A scale is used to map data to a visual representation.

Question 7

position

Answer 7

all 2D data visulizations need to be positioned in some kind of space

most common x, y cartesian coordinates

Question 8

shape and size

Answer 8

shape: mapped to discrete variables so often is used to represent categories

size: often mapped to amounts or magnitude

Question 9

line width and line type

Answer 9

width: used to show amount or magnitude, particularly in ‘time series’ data

line: can only represent categorical/qual data

Question 10

three main categories of color scales

Answer 10

1. continuous
2. categorical/qual
3. diverging

Question 11

continuous colours

Answer 11

used to represent numerical/countable data
- see colours as having higher or lower values
ie: income

• often a single hue (light to dark blue)

Question 12

qualitative colours

Answer 12

• used to distinguish between categories
• not close together in colour and should not have any apparent order

Question 13

diverging colours

Answer 13

• values diverge around a midpoint (percent trump vs Obama)
• scale runs from saturated to light, red to a midpoint white then light to saturated blue

Question 14

HSB

Answer 14

framework to understand how to use colour

HUE: colours of the spectrum
Saturation: the ‘richness’ of a particular hue
brightness

Question 15

hue

Answer 15

related to how we perceive colours ‘hotter’ vs ‘cooler’

smaller variation is hue can have a bIG effect

Question 16

saturation

Answer 16

can be used to make colorspop to draw attention to them

Question 17

Things to Consider When Designing

Answer 17

Audience: Who will see your design?

Goal: Do you want to inform, persuade, or evoke emotion?

Other reason: creating something for a practical or functional reason, rather than for artistic or emotional reasons

Question 18

Edward Tufte’s Principles

Answer 18

Principle of ‘Data Ink’:

Graphical excellence is that which gives to the viewer the greatest number of ideas in the shortest time with the least ink in the smallest space.”

The fewer elements of the graph can be removed without a loss of information, the more ‘data link’.

Question 19

who was credited as the first data visualisations

Answer 19

William Playfair

importance of neutrality, objectivity

Question 20

humanistic approach

Answer 20

• uncertainty
• complexity
• Drucker, data vs capta
• data is captured: it is constructed