An approach to the taxonomy of data visualisation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4185/RLCS-2014-1021

Keywords:

Visualisation, infographics, visuality, visual narrative, data

Abstract

Introduction: In the new visual media there is a tendency to use enormous data sets to build documents that are useful in various ways. To this end, graphic representations of data sets are created to highlight the most immediate, meaningful and educational contents and make the information more easy to understand for readers. Method: This article aims to bring some order to the plurisemia and synonymy of the terms that are often used in the production of graphic representations and to develop a prototypical analysis of various types of documents presented in the so-called data visualisations. Results and conclusions: The taxonomic classification is a contribution to visual communication studies and highlights the interest of the media on using data visualisations that are easy-to-interpret, rapid-to-produce and low-cost (when their technological
programming is reused for other types of content).

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Author Biographies

José Luis Valero Sancho, Autonomous University of Barcelona

José Luis Valero Sancho holds a PhD Degree in Audiovisual Communication and is a Professor at the School of Communication Sciences of the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

Expert on the production of data visualisations and collaborator at many universities and media companies in the implementation and theoretical-practical analysis of digital infographics, with a multitude of courses, conferences and workshops tailored for media professionals.

Author of several books and indexed journal articles about printed and digital infographics, and use of computer graphics in television. Coordinator of the teaching of subjects related to multimedia production and languages in (TV and digital) Journalism and Audiovisual Communication at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

Jordi Català Domínguez, Autonomous University of Barcelona

Jordi Català Domínguez is a journalist and a graphic artist. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and Medieval History. Former editor in Chief of computer graphics and Chief Senior Editor at El Periódico de Catalunya (1993-2006 and 2006-2012, respectively).

He created the infographic department of El Periódico de Catalunya, which was the first department of its kind in the Spanish press. In 1987, he participated in the arrival of the first MAC for computer graphics.

Pioneer of computer graphics in Spain and first-row witness of the transition from handcrafted to high-tech infographics and the infographics boom after the Gulf War and the Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympic Games.

Since 1992, he has participated as speaker, jury and organiser in events and conferences about the press and computer graphics, organised by the SND-E, SND, Malofiej, ÑH and the European Newspaper Awards. Receiver of over 100 national and international awards.

Associate Professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the EINA University School of Design. Former professor at the ELISAVA School of Design and Engineering of Barcelona (Pompeu Fabra University), where he taught the subjects of illustration, graphics, final project, and master courses in multimedia design and corporate image design.

He has also taught postgraduate and master-level courses and conferences at the Institute of Continuing education (UPF), the International University of Catalonia (UIC), the Salesiana University School de Sarrià (EUSS) and the University of Vic (UVIC).

Contributor to the European Space Agency (ESA) with a book about satellites flight. Author of a dozen of books published by Ediciones B. Author of an essay on the theory of colour (Anaya–El Sol, 1990). He has done various collaborations in advertising, comics and promotions, for Saatchi Saatchi and Imagina. He has collaborated as illustrator in Aragón Express, Zaragoza Deportiva, Revista TMB, Fin de Semana, Altaïr, Barcelona’s Government, Quaderns de L’Auditori and Doctors Without Borders. Creator of the fictional character TOI, “a state of mind with antennas”, which has become very popular and achieved great success in various advertising campaigns in Spain and Portugal. Responsible for infographics in the Spanish stage of Le Monde Diplomatique and RACC magazine.

Beatriz Elena Marín Ochoa, Pontifical Bolivarian University

Beatriz Elena Marin Ochoa is a social communicator and journalist from the University of Antioquia. She holds Master’s degrees in Communication and Education and in Introduction to Research in Communication and Journalism, and a Ph.D. degree in Communication and Journalism from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain).

Former journalist at El Colombiano newspaper and coordinator of the children’s edition of the newspaper: El Colombianito. Former editor of El Colombiano’s webpage Prensa Escuela, with which she won the Inter-American Press Society (SIP) award, for the Best Press Education Programme in America.

Former Professor at the University of Antioquia, the University of Medellin, the Autonomous University of Manizales, the ITEPAL, the IMAC and Mexico’s International Centre of Prospective and Higher Studies (CIPAE). Member of the Latin American Association of Communication Researchers (ALAIC).

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Published

2014-07-30

How to Cite

Valero Sancho, J. L. ., Català Domínguez, J. ., & Marín Ochoa, B. E. . (2014). An approach to the taxonomy of data visualisation. Revista Latina De Comunicación Social, (69), 486–507. https://doi.org/10.4185/RLCS-2014-1021

Issue

No. 69 (2014)

Section

Miscellaneous
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