Homework 1 - Finding interesting visualizations
Overview: In this assignment you will search the internet for great (or just interesting) examples of visualization in practice. You can also choose visualizations that you’ve already seen. You’ll think about what works and does not work in each visualization.
Requirements:
Choose 3 separate visualizations from the web that you think are particularly interesting, insightful, creative or thought provoking.
These should be more than a basic scatterplot, line plot or map. Look for visualizations that are interactive, incorporate cool artwork or are different from most visualizations you’ve seen before.
The visualization don’t necessarily need to be good! If you find a visualization that you think fails to accomplish its goals in an interesting way, feel free to choose that!
Each visualization should be from a different source. (e.g. you may not chose 2 visualizations from the New York Times).
Provide a citation, link and screenshot of each visualization in your submission.
For each visualization write a concise few sentences explaining why you think it is interesting or noteworthy. You might consider the following criteria:
Did this visualization teach you something interesting or unexpected that you would not have learned otherwise?
Is this visualization particularly aesthetically pleasing or artistic?
Does the visualization use interaction in a clever or engaging way?
Does this visualization have particular historical or cultural significance?
For each visualization write a concise few sentences explaining what you think works and does not work about each visualization. We haven’t discussed evaluating visualizations yet, so just go with your instincts! There are no right or wrong answers here.
Note: To earn an outstanding submission grade for this assignment, you should return later in the semester and share an example of a published visualization that is an exemplary or innovative example of one or more of the techniques discussed in class, explaining why in an additional paragraph.
You should follow the standard instructions for submitting this assignment on Canvas. You do not need to use the class Quarto template.
Hints:
There are many places on the internet you can find interesting and unique visualizations. Journalistic publications such as the New York Times, the Washington Post, the LA Times, the Guardian, the Atlantic, FiveThirtyEight, the Economist and others are a great place to start. Forums such as Reddit’s r/dataisbeautiful also have many examples. You can find celebrated visualizations in the archives of the Malofiej or Information Is Beautiful awards. You’re also free to look at blog posts, academic journals, government publications or anywhere else you think you might find interesting work! For each visualization write a concise few sentences explaining what you think works and does not work about each visualization. We haven’t discussed evaluating visualizations yet, so just go with your instincts! There are no right or wrong answers here.
Note: To earn an outstanding submission grade for this assignment, you should return later in the semester and share an example of a published visualization that is an exemplary or innovative example of one or more of the techniques discussed in class, explaining why in an additional paragraph.
You should follow the standard instructions for submitting this assignment on Canvas. You do not need to use the class Quarto template.
Hints:
There are many places on the internet you can find interesting and unique visualizations. Journalistic publications such as the New York Times, the Washington Post, the LA Times, the Guardian, the Atlantic, FiveThirtyEight, the Economist and others are a great place to start. Forums such as Reddit’s r/dataisbeautiful also have many examples. You can find celebrated visualizations in the archives of the Malofiej or Information Is Beautiful awards. You’re also free to look at blog posts, academic journals, government publications or anywhere else you think you might find interesting work!