More Than a Photograph: The best data visualizations aren’t always online
Data journalism and information visualization is a burgeoning field. Every week, Between the Spreadsheets will analyze, interrogate, and explore emerging work in this area. Between the Spreadsheets is brought to you by CJR and Columbia’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism.
When it comes to numbers, sometimes less is more. Peter Ørntoft’s data project for the Danish Design School — which recently won an Information is Beautiful award — doesn’t have much data on display, but its visual impact is bountiful. By selecting a choice few figures to illustrate his findings, he creates much more punch than by dumping all the information available and leaving it up to the reader to make head or tail of it.
A keen design eye goes a long way when visualizing data. Ørntoft’s piece was intended to be displayed in print form, but data journalism need not be relegated solely to the darkest corners of the Internet. In fact, infographics intended for print publication can inspire all kinds of data journalism projects. As this piece shows, approaching the visualization of data from a print design angle makes for an aesthetically appealing result. Data journalism doesn’t have to be a thing of beauty, but if it is, the point it makes tends to stick better.
The project uses data on what Danish people think about various social issues. Its strength is its integration of graphical elements with photography; it draws from an established visual literacy associated with photographs. The rule of thirds — a compositional principle that says images divided into three clear sections are easier to interpret — is apparent. There are three vertical sections, two grey spaces framing each side of the central element of the woman in the headscarf. There is also color-blocking; against a neutral background there are accents of primary colors which stand out and draw the eye to them, helping the viewer see that the action of this piece is happening in its center.