“Constructing visual representations of information is not mere translation of what can be read to what can be seen. It entails filtering the information, establishing relationships, discerning patterns, and representing them [in a meaningful way].”
Visual representations of information bring relationships, connections, divisions, and patterns to the fore. Instead of simply describing the information, visual representations give us a physical sense of proximity, size, similarity, chronology, and power – they enable us to see where things stand and how they are laid out in a certain space.
Therefore, the challenge to the information designer is to choose the appropriate physical space in which to display the information relationships. Is it a subway system, a floor plan, a hierarchical chart, or a world map? Is the space a representation of time passing or a snapshot of today?
Once one has chosen the space, one must carefully choose the dimensions of the information that will be portrayed. It will be necessary to evaluate any aesthetic instincts for their information value – does varying the color communicate something about the information or is it merely for decoration?
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