Information Design: Visualizing Data
Information design is a task that most everyone performs, but rarely do well. Most people don’t even know what it is, but it’s really been around since the first book was written. It’s defined by Wikipedia as:
The design of information graphics, and more generally the design of visual displays of data. Its most important component is structuring information so it will be as learnable or useful as possible.
As online applications become more complex, most of us involved in software/online development expand this “graphical” definition to certain types of multiple-action text, image, video, animation experiences.
For example, in a complex product configuration and e-commerce checkout, information design is not only important at the graphical level, but the entire experience over multiple pages. Feature/benefit copy, product images, demo animations, usage video and purchase forms all comprise the information design experience.
A Well Done Example
The NYTimes has a very effective experience in a Casualties of War interactive tool. It shows several types of information regarding deaths of US service members in Iraq. 
A sad subject, but the authors do a great job of showing relevantly grouped data over time than just statistics and piles of numbers.
The interface invites exploration and manipulation. Flexible and shortcut time periods, demographics, location, location grouping and significant events are all shown in an easy to understand visual interface. The “Faces” tab even uses an effective and thematic interface to browse pictures of the soldiers.
The “analysis” tab’s interface is an excellent representation of newsworthy events for the general public, but it could also be a valuable tool for military commanders. Showing the enemy activity in clear visuals, over time, could help predict surges and devise the best placement of military assets.
Another Example
A leading information designer, Edward Tufte, republishes and discusses a map from 1869 showing Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812. 
Although the analysis is many years after the fact, it clearly shows the attrition of the army’s size over the route from the Polish-Russian border to Moscow. It’s also tied to temperature scales, showing the duration they are in freezing cold weather.
How much faster and more accurately could military commanders (or your business) predict and respond to the battlefield if they had the right information, presented in the right way?
Your Company’s Data
Not to get too much into “Sun Tzu” references, but in the same sense as military commanders seeing troop surges, business leaders can see timely financial or operational measures such as inventory levels, profit, sales by unit/product/region, top customers, forecasting or employee data. These can be shown in visual formats that are explore-able and manipulatable, allowing access to summary or detailed information, as well as flexible time periods. There are some great examples below.
Timeliness
The concept of business dashboards is starting to gain popularity. More and more, clients approach Tocquigny, my day job, to help define and report on their business’ key performance indicators to gain more agile operations. How does your company visualize it’s most important data? Piles of spreadsheets in different formats? Can executives or even middle managers see and react to business and market data and opportunities in a reasonable time? It may be time to explore if some type of business dashboard is right for your organization.
Some supporting resources:
Here is a great article on designing and building executive dashboards on Boxes and Arrows, a leading design community site.
There is even a new blog site called “The Dashboard Spy” that I’ve been reading lately. It’s a collection of screen grabs of dashboards in use, here are some great examples: Hospital Performance, Threat Managment/Security and National Health Statistics for Rwanda.
Enjoy!
Charlie
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Good afternoon ,
Thank you to sen me a general informations about your process and clients of your the design informations .
Your sincerly