21  Visualization and Design


Summary

Concept Description
Perception
Visual Encoding Mapping data values to position, length, colour, and shape
Pre-attentive Attributes Visual properties the brain processes within milliseconds
Gestalt Principles Proximity, similarity, continuity, closure, and figure-ground
Design Craft
Colour Theory Hue, saturation, and lightness applied with intent and accessibility
Typography Choosing typefaces and sizes that aid scanning
White Space Negative space as a tool for grouping and breathing room
Visual Hierarchy Guiding attention from the most to least important elements
Chart Junk Eliminating decorative ink that distracts from the data