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What Tufte said graphics should do:
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How we can apply it:
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| Show the data. |
Show the information without obscuring it. |
| Induce the viewer to think about the substance rather than about methodology, graphic design, the technology of graphic production, or something else. |
Emphasize content rather than flashy graphics or technology. |
| Avoid distorting what the data have to say. |
Don't mislead people through content or graphics. |
| Present many numbers in a small space. |
Use screen space wisely. |
| Make large data sets coherent. |
Organize information well to make it easier to grasp. |
| Encourage the eye to compare different pieces of data. |
Use tables, colors, or graphics to compare/contrast information. |
| Reveal the data at several levels of detail, from a broad overview to the fine structure. |
Keep initial screen clean; then provide a table of contents, use consistent headings, and provide links to more detailed areas. |
| Serve a reasonably clear purpose: description, exploration, tabulation, or decoration. |
Holds true for web graphics too! |
| Be closely integrated with the statistical and verbal description of a data set. |
Graphics and text should work together. |