Florence Nightingale revolutionized mortality understanding through powerful visuals.
Emma Willard portrayed time evolution through unique historical timelines.
Deep dives
Analysis of 3 Data Visualization Visionaries
RJ Andrews, a data storyteller and author of 'Info We Trust,' talks about his three-book series 'Information Graphics Visionaries.' The first book in the series delves into Florence Nightingale's groundbreaking work using statistics and data graphics for public health reform. Andrews extensively researched Nightingale's preserved letters and original data graphics, highlighting her meticulous working process and the impact of her graphics in influencing decision-makers.
Significance of Informational Visualization in Education
Emma Willard, an education reform activist, is featured in another book. Willard's most notable work, 'The Temple of Time,' showcases a unique historical timeline perspective, emphasizing the evolution of time and history. Susan Schulte, an expert on Willard's graphic work, collaborated with Andrews to explore Willard's creative career spanning several decades, demonstrating the evolution of her graphic designs influenced by her experience as a teacher and competition in textbook publishing.
Reviving Historical Data Visualization Insights
The third book in the series highlights 'The Graphic Method' by Etienne-Jules Marey, a data visualization book from 1878. Andrews emphasizes the importance of republishing historical visualization works to acknowledge the tradition and evolution of data graphics. Marey's book serves as a pivotal historical reference for data practitioners, showcasing timeless graphic examples and reminding professionals of the field's enduring significance and evolution.
Reflection on Traditional Graphic Tools and Practices
Andrews shares his essential graphic tools, including a spiral-bound notebook and a Blackwing 602 pencil, emphasizing the importance of practicality and functionality in creative processes. His insights from 'Finite and Infinite Games' by James Carse shape his career philosophy, focusing on sustainability and continuous creativity in an ever-evolving professional landscape. Andrews highlights diverse influential books that have inspired his approach to data storytelling and graphic design.
RJ Andrews is the founder of data design studio Info We Trust and author of a new series of books delving into the deep history of of data visualisation and storytelling. In this episode of the pod, he talks about three significant parts of the history of data visuals: Florence Nightingale, Emma Willard and Étienne-Jules Marey. While Nightingale created powerful visuals that changed how we understand mortality, Willard portrayed time itself. And Marey wrote a guide to visualising data that seems current today. You can buy the books here.
The music this week, made with TwoTone, is life expectancy, based on a dataset used in the Nightingale book and provided to us by RJ.Life expectancy at birth is defined as the average number of years that a newborn could expect to live if he or she were to pass through life subject to the age-specific mortality rates of a given period. Data compiled by Our World in Data based on estimates by James C. Riley, Clio Infra, and the United Nations Population Division.
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