Abstract:
Information visualisation is an increasingly prominent
practice focussed on making large amounts of data
more accessible through visual media. Furthermore,
an increased interest in the aesthetic value of visualisations
is evident in the emergence of a sub-category of
visualisation known as “information aesthetics”, where
visualisation is used in more artistic and experimental
ways, with a strong focus on visual appeal. This aesthetic
quality of certain information visualisations has
attracted considerable debate and some traditional
practitioners are concerned that “aesthetics” may detract
from the functional or analytical goals of visualisation
artifacts. This perceived divide between aesthetics
and functionality may, however, result from two common
misconceptions about “aesthetics” within design
discourse. Firstly, “aesthetics” is often understood as an
afterthought, or the superficial visual appeal considered
after all other design decisions have been made. Secondly,
“aesthetics” is often distrusted, with “decoration”
seen as a sign of subjective interference with otherwise
objective or neutral information transfer. This article
explores various perspectives on the relationship between
design aesthetics and functionality, proposing ways in
which they may be more closely connected, specifically
within an information visualisation context.
