When Oversimplification Obscures

picture of journal article title on Computational Culture website

In November 2022, Ama penned an article for the Data Visualization Society's Journal, Nightingale, titled When Oversimplification Obscures. In it, she consider the consequences of designing overly simple data visualizations. Three core messages from the article are:

  1. Summarizing or grouping data can reveal important patterns OR conceal valuable insights.

  2. Don't just choose a chart because it is simple or easy to interpret. Choose a chart that best (re)presents your data.

  3. Experiment with different charts and visualization types to see what works and resonates with your audience.

Read the Article