Name: The simple genius of a good graphic
Uploaded: 2018-09-24T14:46:11Z
Duration: 5 min 47 s
Description: In a talk that's part history lesson, part love letter to graphics, information designer Tommy McCall traces the centuries-long evolution of charts and diagrams -- and shows how complex data can be sculpted into beautiful shapes. "Graphics that help us think faster, or see a book's worth of information on a single page, are the key to unlocking new discoveries," McCall says.

In a talk that's part history lesson, part love letter to graphics, information designer Tommy McCall traces the centuries-long evolution of charts and diagrams -- and shows how complex data can be sculpted into beautiful shapes. "Graphics that help us think faster, or see a book's worth of information on a single page, are the key to unlocking new discoveries," McCall says.

Tommy McCall: The simple genius of a good graphic

The simple genius of a good graphic

William Playfair's invention of the bar chart in 1786 sparked the visual display of quantitative information, shaping data analysis.

Florence Nightingale's coxcomb chart for Queen Victoria in 1857 highlighted preventable troop deaths, pioneering data-driven advocacy.

Adding a simple dot to stock listings, as done for the "New York Times," transformed investor insights with minimalistic visualization.