Hi, Arden,
Edward Tufte's books give a good background. In addition to information on his books, you'll find many free resources on Tufte's web site:
http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/
If you can manage it, Tufte also offers a one-day seminar on presenting data and information. The seminar covers these topics:
fundamental strategies of analytical design
evaluating evidence used in presentations
statistical data: tables, graphics, and semi-graphics
business, scientific, research, and financial presentations
complexity and clarity
effective presentations: on paper and in person
interface design
use of PowerPoint, video, overheads, and handouts
multi-media, internet, and websites
credibility of presentations
animation and scientific visualizations
many practical examples
If you hone your questions in advance, the opportunity to ask questions in person could be worth the cost of the seminar and a trip to Seattle or Portland later this month.
While the design community knows Tufte for his beautiful design books, he was until recently a professor of political economics and statistics at Yale University. His dismay at the shabby representation and the outright misrepresentation of data in graphic form led him to the book that established his reputation among designers, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. After the book was published, the designers also signed him up, and he is now professor emeritus in all three fields.
There is also a terrific web site titled Visual Statistics with Multimedia compiled by David Krus, professor emeritus of statistics and research methodology at Arizona State University. This site includes a treasury of useful resources.
http://www.visualstatistics.net/
Krus also offers a terrific series of links to good university resources:
http://www.visualstatistics.net/Submenu/Submenu.htm
If you start with these two sites, you'll find the basics and you'll find the links and references you need to go further.
Yours,
Ken
Ken Friedman, PhD, DSc (hc), FDRS
Professor
Dean
Swinburne Design
Swinburne University of Technology
Melbourne, Australia
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