ABSTRACT

There are many approaches to evaluation available to information designers as well as opinions on best practice. Those beginning to explore the eld of data visualization oen encounter Edward Tue’s preferences for simplicity and clarity (Tue 2001), but may also hear the proponents of embellishment such as Nigel Holmes (Heller 2006; Holmes 2009). The position of this paper is that both of these perspectives, and many others, are perfectly valid for dierent contexts of use. For an audience, such as nancial analysts, that is already motivated to look for information, a simpler visualization approach may be appropriate. For a data journalist or science communicator aiming to attract the attention of the less-engaged reader, more visual embellishment may be required. The key point in both of these situations is whether the information is understood or not by a particular audience.