Information Design Journal - Volume 6, Issue 1, 1990

The invention of statistical graphics is generally, if inaccurately, attributed to William Playfair His initial innovation, along with his subsequent invention of most of the major repertoire of statistical graphics, is in many ways an enigma of the history of science: (1) Given their apparent obviousness, why had these graphic forms not been previously used for plotting statistics? {2} Why was the Cartesian coordinate system, during a century ami a half from its invention, not regularly applied to the kinds of data which Playfair plotted? (3) Why were the symbolic schematics used by Playfair apparently understood by contemporaries without need for prior learning of his 'conventions'? (4) Why did serious scholarly attention to Playfair'$ innovations occur earlier on the continent than in England? (5) Why subsequently have there been waves of popularity and of neglect of Playfair's forms? (S) Why were statistical graphics invented by a political pamphleteer and business adventurer rather than a scholar or scientist? (7) Why did statistical graphics develop first for social data applications rather than for natural or physical science purposes? Addressing these questions may shed light on developments in schematic representation of statistics from the beginnings of cultural numeracy to the present day The primary explanations of the enigma are: (1) the similarities and differences between the purely empirical data graph and diagrammatic representations of pure or applied mathematical functions; (2) the association of utility of pure data graphs with a statistical orientation toward phenomena, Playfaiťs innovations were facilitated by bis association with science during a time when science was particularly hospitable to highly pragmatic endeavors. His innovations were also facilitated by bis marginality with regard to the science of bis contemporaries.

The work of William Playfair, who is often landed as an originator of most modern-day graphic methods, has received very Utile systematic scrutiny and analysis. Playfair made his graphic debut with the publication in 1786 of The commercial and political atlas; this cycled through several editions and permutations* With one or two exceptions, Play f air's second major graphic contribution was A letter on our agricultural distresses, their causes and remedies of 1821, While Playfak has been credited with having 'invented' bar, circle and pie graphics, it was ime graphics he favoured most and used most frequently This paper contains some observations on the evolution of his approach to the design of line graphics; it examines some of the pitfalls of this approach. His astute insight into the value of the graphic method is most noteworthy and is also examined in this paper.

This is a case study of a telephone bill redesign project in a collaborative effort, a linguist a graphic designer and an executive manager developed and tested new telephone bill solutions to improve customer comprehension and satisfaction with a very familiar yet complex document The project resulted in an improved document for the telephone company while raising important questions for future research into the nature of how people interact with routine documents in terms of preference, comprehension and use.

This paper reports the development of a hand-held sketch map intended to help people find clinics and other facilities in a hospital Outpatients Department. The map illustrated the whereabouts of more than 50 locations which were divided between two floors, Considerable thought and consultation went into the design of the map. Empirical evaluation was carried out by asking members of the public to use the map to find specific locations in the building. This showed that some of the information on the map was not understood at all, some was misinterpreted and some was ignored. Analysis of people's difficulties suggested that over 20 revisions were needed and that these fell into six broad categories, which included readers' presuppositions about the labelling of the built environment, their interpretation of iconic information on the map, and their use of way-finding information both on and off the map. This led to a revised map, which further testing showed overcame the previous problems. However, subsequent requests for extra details on the map showed that the design solutions did not necessarily remain adequate when new information was introduced. Numerous subtle factors could cause ambiguities for readers and undermine the map's effectiveness. Although the error analysis pointed to general design principles for this kind of location diagram, these principles were goals rather than procedures which could guarantee the success of such maps. Empirical evaluation provides the only certain way of knowing that a location map is adequate for its purpose,

Two main issues in developing and standardizing public information symbols on an international basis are covered in this paper: the procedures for the development and testing of public information symbols as applied by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) committee working on public information symbols; and the results of the 19S5/6 test series conducted under the sponsorship of ISO.

She is older than the rocks among which she sits ; like the vampire, she has been dead many times, and learned the secrets of the grave ; and has been a diver in deep seas, and keeps their fallen day about her ; and trafficked for strange webs with Eastern merchants : and, as Leda, was the mother of Helen of Troy, and, as Saint Anne, the mother of Mary ; and all this has been to her but as the sound of lyres and flutes, and lives only in the delicacy with which it has moulded the changing lineaments, and tinged the eyelids and the hands.