Theory of graphics¶

Design arguments¶

One of the main design arguments for the graphical display of information is data / ink maximization tufte1990data. This is the idea that idea that as much of the “ink” (non-background pixels) of the plot as possible should be displaying data.

Data/ink maximalization has been criticized empirically. For example, inbar2007minimalism conducted a study with 87 undergraduates and found a clear preference for the non-maximized variations. Another line of argument discusses the “paradox of simplicity” norman2007simplicity, eytam2017paradox, whereby we have a strong aesthetic preference for simplicity, but also want flexibility and maximum utility.

bertin1983semiology

Graphical critique¶

wickham2010graphical