"I can see what's shown on the chart. But my brain can't assess the proportions or understand why this visualization exists at all. To figure out how to "read" such a chart, I need time. Does this sound familiar? I'm sure it does. Because unreadable, confusing charts and strange infographics are everywhere. I could say the problem is me, that I'm missing something. But I've been comfortable with maps and charts since childhood, and as an adult I've designed dashboards myself."
"Data visualization is supposed to simplify complex things. To make them clear. To save people time and cognitive effort. But if a visualization has to be "studied" just to understand basic proportions, it's no longer a tool. It's a puzzle. Understanding why this happens, and how to avoid it, is a kind of magic key to creating a usable tool. One that makes life easier and helps people like the product."
Unreadable and confusing charts are widespread and force viewers to spend time just to understand basic proportions. Such visualizations make users feel stupid, frustrated, and deceived instead of saving time and cognitive effort. Designers often assume specialized audiences will decode complex charts quickly, but any brain can struggle with visual forms that require awkward mental operations. Context and experience change how people perceive graphics; repetition creates automaticity that improves fluency. Effective visualization minimizes cognitive load, avoids puzzles, and prioritizes clarity so that tools make life easier and foster trust and product adoption.
Read at Medium
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