Last Friday, I attended a workshop by Edward Tufte, a master of data visualization, in Denver. Here’s what I learned.
On showing only information; no junk:
In a completely dark room inside the Hyatt hotel, Tufte started the workshop by showing a beautiful animation by the “Music Animation Machine“, a website created by Stephen Malinowski. Below is an animated example of Debussy’s Clair de Lune. In Tufte’s words: “there is no chart junk here”, i.e. everything you see is pure information that contributes to your understanding.
On effective writing:
If you want to have examples of effective information communication, look at sites that receive many viewers, such as New York Times or ESPN. What you’ll learn from them:
- Always mention your sources
- Include quotes from external experts
- If you want to communicate just a few numbers, integrate them into your text; do not create “data junk”, i.e. small tables or bar charts to communicate just a few numbers
- Create beautiful templates to communicate complex data, such as NYT’s visualization of Obama’s 2013 budget proposal
On better meetings:
Start each meeting by giving all participants a written briefing. Do not brief people by giving a presentation. We can process information more quickly through reading than speaking. (Also: don’t send the written document out in advance expecting meeting participants to read it. Create time in the meeting for people to read your information.) Jeff Bezos uses 6-page memos and 30 minutes of silent reading for all important meetings at Amazon.
So, when you next visit your doctor, do not tell them what’s the matter—write down your complaints in stead. When you finally get to meet with the doctor, give him your printed out complaints, and ask him to silently read it.
On combining words, drawings, and images:
We can process all kinds of information together. Our mind does not filter “words” from “images”. The reason we have text editors for words and Photoshop for images and Illustrator for drawings is that it’s easier for the software makers and possibly the creator, but definitely not for the reader.
Titiaan Palazzi Blog 
Cool! Thanks for sharing 🙂
On Mon, Aug 3, 2015 at 5:55 PM, Titiaan Palazzi Blog
When the video began I was skeptical about the visual becoming something meaningful. The skepticism came down very quickly. The format of the information gave me a whole new appreciation for the music. As an untrained listener, you get real-time access to the nuance of the piece—a full experience. Now only if there was a way to apply this to the many flavors of foods or wine.
Funny, your comment on the doctor’s office. But probably a sound idea.
Seeing and reading Débussy’s nocturne really moved me. Like dance this is a visual expression of the musical tones. With regard to the writing down of your complaints and presenting the print out to your doctor: I think the human voice reveals a lot too (that the written word does not): emotions such as pain, anger, irritation, disbelief, frustration, sorrow, deep grief etc. So I will keep speaking at my next consult.
Well written and some good points!
I especially like the insight on talking versus reading. In a conversation or meeting, you often go the route participants want to go. But for good insights, you often just need to take a step back and let your mind wander for a short bit.