Who Would You Most Want on Your Data Visualization Project? [POLL]

Data visualization spans many fields (e.g. computer science, statistics, design) and has many applications (e.g. imagery, analytics, art) as a result of experts from all over doing their thing. Depending on who I'm talking to about visualization, I'll hear certain names over and over again for their respective areas of expertise. For example, I tend to hear Stephen Few a lot for business, but Edward Tufte for design, and then some mix of Tufte and Leland Wilkinson when I'm talking to statisicians.

OK, so hypothetical situation. You've got a big data visualization project due in two weeks and a mountain of data. You haven't started yet. It's just you and one data visualizer. Who do you choose? If you select "Other" please do leave a comment on who you'd like to work with.

Who would you most want on your data visualization project?

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Comments

kez
Oct 2, 2008, 4:30 am

Ben Fry +1

Marius Watz
Oct 2, 2008, 6:58 am

Nice idea, but your list seems strangely short. You’re missing some obvious names that have been responsible for a lot of recent popular visualizations:

- Martin Wattenberg
- Ben Fry
- Golan Levin
- Tom Carden

For the more design-related part of things I’d mention Catalogtree, Stamen and Strukt. Depending on what you had in mind there’s plenty of others. Also, Manuel Lima of VisualComplexity.com has put together a great resource for the field of visualization.

Jorge Camoes
Oct 2, 2008, 7:13 am

I really don’t think you should leave Jacques Bertin out. It just confirms what Alisa Miller says…

Tony
Oct 2, 2008, 8:35 am

I voted for Few because I am in the business arena, which like you stated is mostly his focus. So, I think it depends on your field.

I surely wouldn’t say no to any of these iconic figures if they offered. :D

reed
Oct 2, 2008, 9:01 am

It kind of depends what kind of visualization don’t you think? Is it a pristine print report? Is it an interactive visualization? An animated presentation (projected)? For whom?

Reed

Jay Parkhill
Oct 2, 2008, 11:01 am

Lee Byron does really beautiful work for the NY Times and others. Here’s a link to last.fm listening history he did
http://tinyurl.com/2b342s

Eric Jain
Oct 2, 2008, 1:48 pm

Ben Fry +1. Tufte could be useful if you need a crusader to convince management to not insist on the candy color scheme.

Nathan
Oct 2, 2008, 2:04 pm

@Marius - i kept the list short on purpose b/c otherwise i would have just gone forever :). The people on the list are those I tend to hear about a lot and whose work is often referred to in papers.

But yeah, there are a lot of other great and talented data viz people out there… ben schneiderman, ben fry, casey reas, simon urbanek, antony unwin, all the guys at stamen, everyone with bestiario, everyone i’ve referred to in the past, etc…

Nathan
Oct 2, 2008, 3:07 pm

… which is the reason for the “other”

Charlie Park
Oct 2, 2008, 3:19 pm

Ben Fry. Absolutely.

iWolf
Oct 3, 2008, 8:35 am

Jarke van Wijk

kez
Oct 2, 2008, 4:30 am

Ben Fry +1
Marius Watz
Oct 2, 2008, 6:58 am

Nice idea, but your list seems strangely short. You’re missing some obvious names that have been responsible for a lot of recent popular visualizations:

- Martin Wattenberg
- Ben Fry
- Golan Levin
- Tom Carden

For the more design-related part of things I’d mention Catalogtree, Stamen and Strukt. Depending on what you had in mind there’s plenty of others. Also, Manuel Lima of VisualComplexity.com has put together a great resource for the field of visualization.
Jorge Camoes
Oct 2, 2008, 7:13 am

I really don’t think you should leave Jacques Bertin out. It just confirms what Alisa Miller says…
Tony
Oct 2, 2008, 8:35 am

I voted for Few because I am in the business arena, which like you stated is mostly his focus. So, I think it depends on your field.

I surely wouldn’t say no to any of these iconic figures if they offered. :D
reed
Oct 2, 2008, 9:01 am

It kind of depends what kind of visualization don’t you think? Is it a pristine print report? Is it an interactive visualization? An animated presentation (projected)? For whom?

Reed
Jay Parkhill
Oct 2, 2008, 11:01 am

Lee Byron does really beautiful work for the NY Times and others. Here’s a link to last.fm listening history he did
http://tinyurl.com/2b342s
Eric Jain
Oct 2, 2008, 1:48 pm

Ben Fry +1. Tufte could be useful if you need a crusader to convince management to not insist on the candy color scheme.
Nathan
Oct 2, 2008, 2:04 pm

@Marius - i kept the list short on purpose b/c otherwise i would have just gone forever :). The people on the list are those I tend to hear about a lot and whose work is often referred to in papers.

But yeah, there are a lot of other great and talented data viz people out there… ben schneiderman, ben fry, casey reas, simon urbanek, antony unwin, all the guys at stamen, everyone with bestiario, everyone i’ve referred to in the past, etc…
Nathan
Oct 2, 2008, 3:07 pm

… which is the reason for the “other”
Charlie Park
Oct 2, 2008, 3:19 pm

Ben Fry. Absolutely.
iWolf
Oct 3, 2008, 8:35 am

Jarke van Wijk