Leslie M. Nayman

Admit it. Wešve all sat through meetings where we tried to analyze poorly designed data tables and graphs, or suffered through PowerPoint presentations of one heading and bullet point slide after another. After a while, they all look the same. How often does anything truly useful and relevant come out of one of these meetings?

In his one-day course on presenting data and information, renowned information designer Edward Tufte inspires us to see how informative and beautiful graphs, charts, tables, and maps can be. Tufte moves beyond simply stating the facts and focuses on using visuals to explain, compare, and contrast ideas. The eye can register and interpret a far greater quantity of data and information than words alone can convey, so the best communication necessarily must combine words, numbers, and graphics to tell a story. Tufte challenges us to take seriously our role as communicators of complex information, and offers techniques to make the most of our chosen format.

Respect your content.

Tufte believes that above all else, your content has to be good. As the communicator, you should have real knowledge and caring about your subject and respect its relevance, quality, and integrity. Show comparisons and causality. Present multiple variables and show your documentation. The best design is transparent, and lets the content speak for itself.

Respect your audience.

Take into account who your audience is and what they are familiar with. Specifically, consider what they read. Donšt force your presentation into heading and bullet point format just because itšs easy and convenient. Give your audience all the information they need to make a decision or come to a conclusion.

Learn the techniques of visual communication.

Tuftešs ideas are detailed in his books. But the techniques of visual communication stem from understanding how the eye and brain work together to process information. The brain is not good at analyzing data that comes linearly, such as one PowerPoint slide after another. We are much better at taking in the whole picture at once. Important comparisons should be shown adjacent in space, and our presentations should integrate words, numbers, and images.

As Tufte says in his book The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, "Graphical excellence is that which give the viewer the greatest number of ideas in the shortest time with the least ink in the smallest space." Or in other words, good design is clear thinking made visible.

Leslie M. Nayman is a graphic designer and principal of Nayman Design (http://www.naymandesign.com).