Good design is clear thinking made visible, bad design is stupidity made visible
Edward TufteRead
The world is complex, dynamic, multidimensiona l; _x000D_ the paper is static, flat. How are we to represent _x000D_ the rich visual world of experience and _x000D_ measurement on mere flatland?
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the challenge of representing the complexities of the real world using simplified, flat representations like graphs or charts.
Edward Tufte highlights the limitations of traditional data visualization methods, pointing out that our rich and intricate experiences cannot be fully captured through static, two-dimensional representations. This serves as a reminder to seek innovative ways to present information that do justice to the dynamic nature of reality.
Themes
DataVisualizationComplexityRepresentationMeasurement
In practice
Example use cases
In a presentation on data analytics, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of better visualization tools.
More from Edward Tufte
All quotes →I have stared long enough at the glowing flat rectangles of computer screens. Let us give more time for doing things in the real world...plant a plant, walk the dogs, read a real book, go to the opera.
Edward TufteRead
There is no such thing as information overload, just bad design. If something is cluttered and/or confusing, fix your design.
Edward TufteRead
The minimum we should hope for with any display technology is that it should do no harm.
Edward TufteRead
PowerPoint is like being trapped in the style of early Egyptian flatland cartoons rather than using the more effective tools of Renaissance visual representation.
Edward TufteRead
If you’re told what to look for, you can’t see anything else.
Edward TufteRead
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