freelance paradigm

Winter is the time of intensive reading, at least for me. Lousy weather and short days are ideal for staying at home with a couple of good books. During these holidays I read some of the Edward Tuftes opus. I was quite aware that Tufte is an extraordinary author, but reading Envisioning Information was still a huge positive shock.

In this book the author deals with the problematic subject of data visualisation. Well, that is the subject of all his books, but here he lays down the basics. He explains how the data should be aranged in tables, charts, computer screens (etc), and also what color scheme to pick, what kind of lines between the columns (etc) - but mostly - WHY it must be so! What are the underlying principles of our perception and cognitive functions that require such design tactics. In order to proove it, he shows a great number of magnificent charts, diagrams, tables and other forms of data visualisaton, that will take away your breath. An other way in which Tufte makes his arguments so strong is by showing his own (re)designs where it becomes clear what he's trying to tell.

Later on I also read Visual Explanations, but I find Envisioning much more fundamental and stunning. Perhaps it is because Envisioning was my first of his books and the shock was hence biger, but it is also true that it contains more basic explanations about the nature of his argument.

I think this is the book that every visual artist (designer, painter, photographer, movie maker...) should read!