Hunter Whitney - Data insights: New ways to visualize and make sense of data

We dont receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves.

MARCEL PROUST

This book is not a set of specifications but, rather, a collection of ideas, observations, juxtapositions, and conversations. Think of it more like a sandbox than a museum case. Its not a hermetically sealed bit of perfection but instead a place where we can take out some ideas, turn them around, and view them from different angles. Dont get me wrong, I love going to museums and looking into cases containing collections of truly cutting-edge advances in technologies such as arrowheads and astrolabes, but hands off! In these pages, youll find some beautiful examples of work to spark your imagination, and places to play with ideas. I hope this book encourages a spirited, relaxed, interactive mindset.

A broad range of skills, abilities, and knowledge is needed to fully realize the far-reaching potential of data visualization. Ive included observations in this book from a number of people with different backgrounds and perspectives, ranging from data scientists and statisticians to painters and writers. I would hope that my audience is just as diverse. Many perspectives are needed.

Im a participant, along with you, in the daily process of making sense of the world, and that process increasingly involves understanding certain kinds of data and putting them to use. Ambiguity, contradictions, and uncertainty are the attributes that often go into making a great story. Double meanings can sometimes be a feature, not a bug, in the code of language. In the realm of science, for example, some of the greatest insights and discoveries have come in unanticipated ways. I would venture to guess that the last word on making sense of data has not been written and wont be for a long time.

I dont intend to suggest every view about the subject offered here is an absolute or meant to answer every possible criticism. Quite the contrary. The opinions and observations of the interviewees that appear in the book may not necessarily align with all of mine. The goal is to spark your own ideas and imagination about the topic and encourage conversation. Some debate is a useful aspect of collaboration. My approach to this subject may be relaxed and offbeat, but I tried to be thoughtful at the same time. Whatever fl aws you may perceive in this book, I hope they are offset by a spirit of adventure and willingness to engage in the discussion. Im dogmatic about being open-minded.

Good design begins with honesty, asks tough questions, comes from collaboration and from trusting your intuition.

FREEMAN THOMAS

Gaining insights from data requires drawing on the skills, knowledge, and craft of many disciplines. The same is true for writing a book about this topic. To provide you with a sense of the expansiveness involved, Ive collaborated with a number of people and interviewed many more. Writing this book has made me step out of my comfort zone, as I think it should, and I couldnt have ventured out alone. For the people most involved, creating it has been a significant experience.

For those whove put in long hours and late nights and given a part of themselves to this project, thank you:

John Bosley, Veena Kumar, Maria DiLisio, Valerie Demos, and Carl Quesnel

I appreciate the efforts of others who have made important contributions to this book:

Editors, reviewers, researchers, content contributors: Austin Rotondo, Becky Ebenkamp, Todd Holloway, Nicolas di Tada, Jon Duke, Barbara Tversky, and Quynh Nguyen

Graphic designers: Allison Bruce, Jo Bangphraxay, Mana Nahavandian, Sepideh Vahidi, Elaine Wilson, Mia Temple Medeiros, Marya Villarin, Axel Schmitzberger, Gavin Pledger, Adam Katz, and George Casino

Those who helped guide the process: Ben Shneiderman, Rachel Roumeliotis, Meg Dunkerley, and Heather Scherer

Writing a book is really difficult, and moral support is essential, so, thank you:

Jann Hoffman and Michael Aratow

To all the interviewees in the book, Ive done my best to highlight some of your great work.

Thank you.