Information visualization (insight, understanding, and discovery) and information art (aesthetics) differ in their context, audience, and goals. In my exploration of D3 I came across an Information Visualization Manifesto by Manuel Lima, and this is what I have learned:
- Form follows function: keep your problem domain in mind when assembling a visualization.
- Question: Drive your work through questions and curiosity.
- Interactivity is key.
- Sources: Provide access to the raw data if possible.
- Narrative: Tell a story with your data.
- Aesthetics Are a consequence of visualization, not a goal.
- Relevancy: What is the context? What patterns are discernable?
- Time: Consider time when your data is affected by it.
- Knowledge: Bring new understanding and insight.
- Ease up: Not everything can or should be visualized. Be deliberate and add to information, don’t obfuscate with unnecessary visualizations.