Thursday, February 15, 2018

visualizing complexity: charts


first, the chart had to be created by a math geek, the idea being to render a number as a curve. nothing better than the original design of william playfair (1759-1823), a political economist and a product of the scottish enlightenment, and johann heinrich lambert (1728-1777).  together, they more or less popularized the idea that data could be presented to a mass audience.



a great history of charts here