Navigating Subjectivity and Objectivity in Data Visualization Design

In data visualization design, the balance between subjectivity and objectivity is crucial. Research on perception in data visualization suggests that subjective decisions are influenced by various factors such as audience familiarity. For instance, while rainbow color palettes are generally discouraged due to causing arbitrary boundaries between colors in continuous data, there are situations, like in climate science, where the nuance they provide outweighs the drawbacks for an audience well-versed in interpreting them. This decision-making process is not purely objective but involves a meticulous consideration of perception, cognition, audience, constraints, goals, and data nature to arrive at a tailored solution open to debate and potential alternatives.