Category: Communication

The Power of Visual Communication: Unlocking Meaningful Data Visualisation

Post author By Matthias
Post date 03/08/2023
No Comments on The Power of Visual Communication: Unlocking Meaningful Data Visualisation

Those who master the visual language can create much more efficient data visualisations and information dashboards. Since our visual perception is primarily cultural, even universal to a certain extent, well-expressed dashboards are much easier to understand. Without thinking much, we understand much of the visual grammar and vocabulary here just like that.

Mini-Series: Let’s learn from Communication Theory

Uncover the hidden power of communication theories on information dashboard design and data analytics in this Mini-Series.

In data visualisation and dashboard development, visual communication plays a pivotal role in conveying complex information effectively. Just like a language has its own vocabulary and grammar, visual communication relies on a profound knowledge of visual elements and their arrangement. This post explores why understanding visual vocabulary and grammar is essential for creating meaningful data visualisations that facilitate information exchange and foster understanding.

Communication Comprehensibility

The force of white space

Left or right? Which of the two dashboards do you prefer?

Use white space wisely in your dashboard design as it is very powerful to deliver a dashboard that shines thanks to its excellent user experience.

Tags dashboard design, white space

Communication Semantics

Think twice – is it important, is it attractive?

Post author By Matthias
Post date 07/09/2020
1 Comment on Think twice – is it important, is it attractive?

Beware of the pointless animation monster as is eats up all of your attention.

Halfway through my studies in media and communication science a technology called Macromedia Flash was evolving. I noticed that web designers used a significant amount of their time to make very nice-looking animations. The only problem was they did not transport any information. Something without any importance draws our attention. The designers forgot about the information design rule #1: form follows function. At the same time, there were designers who leveraged flash to animate information graphics which really made complex things easy to understand. One good example was an animation of biochemical processes in the human body. So something very important draws our attention. Animation made it possible plus attractive.

Communication Comprehensibility Semantics

Mind the triangle

Don't forget that representation of the reality gets cut down at every step in the data analytics and visualisation process

Without semantics, design is just an empty shell. Semantics covers the relationship between a sign and its meaning. So, always keep the triangle of meaning in mind.

Communication Comprehensibility

KISSSS or how to design dashboards for faster insights

Post author By Matthias
Post date 16/07/2020
No Comments on KISSSS or how to design dashboards for faster insights

Kissss certify your information dashboards (creative commons source of lips icon: https://pixy.org/4756570/)

Dashboard design tools are dangerous. They equip you with a massive orchestra of instruments. It makes it very hard not to end up with cacophony. Becoming an outstanding conductor takes a lot of practice, mistakes, and feedback. As in music, there are rules which you first need to learn before you break them intentionally.

Tags KISSSS