Scribd
Upload
33 views35 pages

Data Storytelling 3 Eliminate Clutter

Uploaded by

Zihni Aryanto
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
33 views35 pages

Data Storytelling 3 Eliminate Clutter

Uploaded by

Zihni Aryanto
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 35

Clutter is an enemy Raras Tyasnurita

Quote

2
What is
Clutter?

It makes our visuals appear


more complicated than
necessary.
Excessive cognitive load
Identifying Clutter

● Humans’ brains have a


finite amount of this
mental processing
power.
● We should be smart
about how we use our
audience’s brain power.
● In general, think about
minimizing the
perceived cognitive load.

4
Visual Perception

Which elements in our visuals are


signal (the information we want to
communicate) and which might be
noise (clutter).
Gestalt principles help us
understand how people see,
which we can use to identify
unnecessary elements and ease the
processing of our visual
communications.

5
Proximity
We tend to think of objects that are physically close
together as belonging to part of a group

6
Similarity

similar color, shape, size, or orientation are perceived as related or


belonging to part of a group

7
Enclosure

We think of objects that are physically enclosed together as belonging to part


of a group.

8
Closure

people like things to be simple and to fit in the constructs that are already in
our heads

9
Continuity

when looking at objects, our eyes seek the smoothest path and naturally create
continuity in what we see even where it may not explicitly exist

10
Connection

We tend to think of objects that are physically connected as part of a group. The connective
property typically has a stronger associative value than similar color, size, or shape.

11
Which Gestalt Principles are in play? Tie words to the graph
Gestalt principle of visual perception: proximity
Gestalt principle of visual perception: similarity
Gestalt principle of visual perception: enclosure
Gestalt principle of visual perception: enclosure plus similarity
Gestalt principle of visual perception: connection
Gestalt principle of visual perception: connection plus similarity
White space

White space in visual communication is as important as pauses in public speaking.


Space can be used strategically to draw attention to the parts of the page that are not
white space.

19
Lack of visual order
Revamped summary of survey feedback
Create clean lines (both
horizontally and vertically) of
elements and white space.

Diagonal elements such as


lines and text should be
avoided
Non-strategic use of contrast
Using contrast strategically
Decluttering step by step
Remove chart border
Remove gridlines
Remove data markers
Clean up axis labels
Labels data directly
Before and After
Decluttering example
simplifying the graph
skeleton—everything that
supports the data, but
isn’t the data itself.

borders,
gridlines,
axes,
legend,
title
Makeovers
Simplifying the graph skeleton
Conclusion

Any time you put information in front of your audience, you are creating
cognitive load and asking them to use their brain power to process that
information.

Clutter is your enemy: ban it from your visuals!

35

You might also like