15 Stunning Examples of Data Visualization
Data Visualization is a method of presenting information in a graphical form. Good data visualization should appear as if it is a work of art. This intrigues the viewer and draws them in so that they can further investigate the data and info that the graphic represents. In this post there are 15 stunning examples of Data Visualization that are true works of art.
Click on the title or image for a larger view of each visualization.
The Strengths of Nations
Hereโs an image that discusses the variations in how different nations pursue science.
Madrid.Citymurmur
CityMurmur tries to understand and visualize how media attention reshapes the urban space and city.
Genome
Jules & Jim
This visual represents the relationship between characters in the movie Jules & Jim.
One Week of the Guardian
This is one day in a series that takes the news from one week of the Guardian newspaper, and visually represents it as a series of static visualisations.
One Week of the Guardian
Country Continent GDP Population Radial Convergence
Leisure & Poverty
Stock Data
This image shows historical stock price data plotted as 3D graphs.
NYTimes Threads – Russian Presidents
Food & Poverty
Housing & Poverty
Visualizing the Guardian: Beckham and Rooney
This is a timepiece visualization of the mentions of David Beckham and Wayne Rooney in Guardian stories between 1999 and 2008.
3 Month Crocheting
Design Research Maps
About the Author
Henry Jones is a web developer, designer, and entrepreneur with over 14 years of experience. He is the founder of WDL and ThemeTrust.
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54 Comments
tutorialslounge
August 12, 2009really creative and such a great idea for performance graphing.
Replyindigo
August 12, 2009Awesome collection
ReplyFinn Fitzsimons
June 2, 2011Have you seen numberpicture.com? Its a site that visualizes data into static images – but the way it visualizes it (ie the shape and form of the charts can be created by users of the site) and then these can be used for free by others. It makes the data look so pretty I find! Pure awesomeness…
ReplyTocki
August 12, 2009nice collection! But the first two links seem to be broken.
ReplyJeff Johnson
August 12, 2009These are, to be sure, visually stunning examples of data visualization. But I’m not sure that they are stunning examples of _effective_ visualization. I really have no idea what knowledge these images convey. Good visualization, as I try to practice it, transforms raw data into conclusions. In many of these cases, the visualization not only turns data into confusion, it obscures the data itself. Perhaps it is just that the context is missing, but even there one must remember that readers will often skip over the copy to look at the pictures, so you can’t count on context to make sense out of an image.
ReplySarah
August 12, 2009Very cool from a distance, like a Kandinsky painting… but like Jeff, I would not dare try to understand them.
ReplyBrian Swichkow
August 12, 2009It seems like the more information that needs to be in the image, the more creative they have to be. At the same time there is so much information and detail these things would have to be printed in a HUGE size.
Replycaroline
August 12, 2009I love the overlap of art and science here. I’ve never been entirely sure the practical purpose of these (although as someone mentioned, perhaps in context it is more obvious). But I’m really fascinated with them.
ReplyDon Funk
August 12, 2009Nice post! Nitpick:
Gaurdian => Guardian
Thanks!
ReplyBebopDesigner
August 12, 2009Wow these are brilliant! I have no idea how to interpret any of the info, but it is really eye catching. Specially love Leisure & Poverty, and Housing & Poverty ones. I’m very intrigued on how they come up with the design and usability (or readability?). The designing process of one of these would be a really really interesting thing to find out. Thanks for posting.
Replywebadelic
August 12, 2009those really are stunning.
ReplyRPoulin
August 12, 2009Data visualization is about understanding quickly what a lot of data says about a certain situation or issue. They should serve as a shortcut for your brain. Most of these images fail to achieve this basic goal. I’ve made an honest effort to understand a few of them.
Just like an ultra-modern kitchen without storage space, it looks great until you try to use it.
ReplyLucas Tadeu
August 12, 2009Very nice collection. All of these works are really creative.Thanks for sharing this with us.
ReplySean
August 12, 2009I’ve seen a few of these before, but WOW this collection has blown my mind!
ReplyKevin
August 12, 2009It’s amazing how boring data can become something this beautiful…
ReplyGeovane Rodrigues
August 12, 2009The examples of graphics is fantastic!
ReplyNice collection.
Peter
August 12, 2009Great representations of boring data.
ReplyJoel Pitt
August 12, 2009Looks cool, but I’ve got to agree with the above comments. In most of these, the actual data itself is obfuscated by the prettiness rather than being made easier to understand.
Replytheaizusnapbox
August 13, 2009awesome design, but I will not try to understand the context that is trying to be conveyed…
ReplyPaul Datta
August 14, 2009This is an amazing collection. Id like to see them at a higher resolution so I can see them in greater detail. Blown away!
ReplyAlexander Bickov
August 14, 2009Great abstract arts
ReplyKing Tut
August 14, 2009Thanks, Joel. I am keeping this phrase as the simplest way of summarizing what I feel seeing this kind of graphics (in this and other situations).
In spite of their visual allure, most of them are more eye-candy than real awesome design. Design is about use and communication, not just about prettiness.
ReplyTim Read
August 14, 2009Very nice – you need to go to the original sources to understand them: just follow the links. I like the Strengths of Nations one. Is surprising how the USA is more strong in social sciences and health, yet they produce incredible tech.
ReplyLuke
August 14, 2009Great visual effects, thanks for sharing
ReplyiPhone App Developer
August 15, 2009Some spectacularly clever and beautiful visualisations – thank you.