Response to Ben Fry's Computational Information Design
"...the issue is not that the visual design should be 'prettier'. Rather, that the approach of the visual designer solves many common problems in typical information visualization," (40).
1) Are there any problems that "visual designers" solve in typical information visualization that are not related to clarity of information communication?
2) Assuming that Fry is referencing graphic designers as "visual designers," what separates someone with graphic design skills doing graphic design from a graphic designer?
"... the diagram itself shows that the representation of the data need not be visually intricate or over-designed in order to convey the data. The latter point is important to be consider with the emphasis on graphic design—that the design is not a matter of fancy graphics or visual tricks, rather that it is a means to an end for creating the cleanest, most understandable diagram possible," (43).
3) Is there ever an appropriate time to use fancy graphics or visual tricks for graphic design/information visualization?
4) What are the limits or guidelines to data mining?