Overview
This repository serves as a digital lecture series exploring the fundamental principles of information design. We focus on the efficiency of communication through the lens of clarity, density, and the elimination of non-essential graphics.
Students are expected to engage with the interactive demonstrations provided in each module to understand the impact of "chartjunk" on cognitive load.
Module I: The Data-Ink Ratio
The data-ink ratio is a measurement of the proportion of ink used to present important information. A high ratio implies that most of the ink is dedicated to the data itself, rather than decoration.
Observe how increasing the decorative elements obscures the underlying data trends. The goal is to strip away everything that does not convey information.
Module II: Small Multiples
Small multiples are a series of similar graphs or charts using the same scale and axes, allowing for easy comparison across different subsets of data.
"A design that relies on small multiples allows the eye to scan across patterns without having to re-orient to new scales."
In the next lecture, we will discuss how to implement grid-based layouts for temporal data analysis.
Contact Information
For inquiries regarding course materials, please contact the Department of Visual Analytics via the institutional portal.
Office Hours:
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM