INSIGHT AND!

ENLIGHTENMENT
the future of news visualization
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Hmm!
there’s so much great stuff! around what should I show?

OK…
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

http://graphtv.kevinformatics.com/
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Esteve Boix http://visualizingbuffy.com/
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

do projects like this represent the future of visualization?
front the point of view of tools, sure, but…
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Aren’t we talking too much about these?
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Or about these?
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

http://www.elmundo.es/juegosonline/dispara.html

It’s not that I’m not interested in programming…
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

But I think that the future of visualization doesn’t depend on the tools we use, but on solid principles

Instead of thinking what the future of visualization will be, I perhaps should talk about what I would like the future of news visualization to be

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

PREDICTION 1
designers and journalists (and not just data journalists) will become better at using numbers and evidence
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Data journalists and infographics and visualization designers can lead the way and help raise the numeracy and visual skills of both their colleagues and the public.
We need to be a bit more outspoken when we see wrongdoing

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

The incredible map that shows that half of the U.S. population produces half of the GDP
http://www.thefunctionalart.com/2014/02/the-incredible-gdp-map-that-shows-that.html
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

This map is the equivalent of writing a headline without writing the story that should follow it (to provide more detail.)

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Deaths in traffic have not stopped despite of the no-alcohol law!

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Well... Yes they have! (although perhaps not because of the anti-alcohol law)

Deaths per! 100.000 vehicles

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/221280/more-than-one-quarter-ofjournalists-wish-theyd-chosen-another-career/
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/221280/more-than-one-quarter-ofjournalists-wish-theyd-chosen-another-career/
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Wouldn't it be more newsworthy to report that this number has barely changed in spite of the deep crisis news media"—and journalism itself, for that matter—"is going through? That's the real story, I believe.

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

However, an important challenge is that we, data journalists and visualization designers, are also the victims of ‘patternicity’

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Patternicity
“Finding Meaningful Patterns in Meaningless Noise”
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself--and you are! the easiest person to fool”
Richard Feynman, 1974, Caltech Graduation Address
http://www.lhup.edu/~DSIMANEK/cargocul.htm

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

texty.org.ua
All Texty’s visualization pojects: http://texty.org.ua/pg/blog/infoviz

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25182823

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

The Washington Post

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

It’s more complicated than that…

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

It’s more complicated than that…
In favor of strengthening ties with the European Union WEST CENTER SOUTH EAST 0% 50% 100% In favor of Custom Union with Russia

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

PREDICTION 2
there will be a return to the foundations of visualization
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

What are the features that define a great infographic or data visualization?

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

1. Truthful! 2. Functional! 3. Beautiful! 4. Insightful! 5. Enlightening
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

1. Truthful! 2. Functional! 3. Beautiful! 4. Insightful! 5. Enlightening
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

1. Truthful! 2. Functional! 3. Beautiful! 4. Insightful! 5. Enlightening
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

1. Truthful! 2. Functional! 3. Beautiful! 4. Insightful! 5. Enlightening
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

1. Truthful! 2. Functional! 3. Beautiful! 4. Insightful! 5. Enlightening
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

"We need to fear the consequences of our work more than we love the cleverness of our ideas.”
Mike Monteiro - How Designers Destroyed the World http://t.co/Kfegq3ldj6

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

The great innovator - William Playfair

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Playfair
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/sports/2014-olympics/winter-vs-summer-olympics/

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

PREDICTION 3

we will embrace the idea that designers can encode their data more than once
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/07/31/business/20080801-metrics-graphic.html

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

ÉPOCA magazine: http://revistaepoca.globo.com/Revista/Epoca/0,,EMI238256-17445,00.html
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

http://50yearsofchange.com/ Made by graduate students of cartography - University of Wisconsin, Madison

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

PREDICTION 4

designers will learn that writing is as important to visualization as the visuals or graphics themselves
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Fischer, Eric - Language Communities of Twitter

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/16/health/uganda-fights-stigma-and-poverty-to-take-on-breast-cancer.html?_r=0#g-graphic Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

PREDICTION 5

data-driven motion graphics will be everywhere

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Robert B. Reich’s ‘Inequality for All’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9REdcxfie3M

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Hans Rosling, www.gapminder.org
http://www.gapminder.org/videos/200-years-that-changed-the-world-bbc/

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

PREDICTION 6

news visualization designers will assume that becoming proficient at using technologies is not a goal in itself
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

http://graphics.wsj.com/health-care-explorer
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

Our first responsibility is towards the planet, humankind, citizens, and only after that towards clients and employers —or even towards your artsy inner world. You must be a creator of devices that make this Earth a better place before you can even think of becoming a fine artist.
http://www.thefunctionalart.com/2014/02/against-irresponsible-design-and-blind.html

Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo 

THANK YOU

THANK YOU
Alberto Cairo • University of Miami • www.thefunctionalart.com • Twitter: @albertocairo