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Data Sketches: A journey of imagination, exploration, and beautiful data visualizations (AK Peters Visualization Series) 1st Edition
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In Data Sketches, Nadieh Bremer and Shirley Wu document the deeply creative process behind 24 unique data visualization projects, and they combine this with powerful technical insights which reveal the mindset behind coding creatively. Exploring 12 different themes – from the Olympics to Presidents & Royals and from Movies to Myths & Legends – each pair of visualizations explores different technologies and forms, blurring the boundary between visualization as an exploratory tool and an artform in its own right. This beautiful book provides an intimate, behind-the-scenes account of all 24 projects and shares the authors’ personal notes and drafts every step of the way.
The book features:
- Detailed information on data gathering, sketching, and coding data visualizations for the web, with screenshots of works-in-progress and reproductions from the authors’ notebooks
- Never-before-published technical write-ups, with beginner-friendly explanations of core data visualization concepts
- Practical lessons based on the data and design challenges overcome during each project
- Full-color pages, showcasing all 24 final data visualizations
This book is perfect for anyone interested or working in data visualization and information design, and especially those who want to take their work to the next level and are inspired by unique and compelling data-driven storytelling.
- ISBN-100367000121
- ISBN-13978-0367000127
- Edition1st
- PublisherA K Peters/CRC Press
- Publication dateFebruary 9, 2021
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions0.95 x 8.98 x 11 inches
- Print length428 pages
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"The Data Sketches collaboration is a glorious tour de force: two people spur each other along a remarkable spiral of visualization creativity, and let the rest of us come along for the ride! Nadieh and Shirley share their sketches and code, experiments and explorations, reflections and realizations, eurekas and backtracks, and infectious enthusiasm. They each bring a unique vector, voice, and style to the 12 project topics; what unites them is deep technical chops and a superlative eye for design."
--Tamara Munzner, Professor of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia, Chair of the Executive Committee of IEEE Visualization, Author of Visualization Analysis and Design
"What a rare treat it is for Shirley and Nadieh to share their process so openly! We see not only the technical work―prototyping with real data, riffing from examples―but the circuitous emotional journey from rough concept to polished final product. Shirley and Nadieh are honest, entertaining, and insightful in their retrospectives. For anyone interested in visualization, their stories are a powerful lesson of how designs can be shaped to communicate effectively and with intent. And their openness and humility make the practice less intimidating, inviting newcomers to get started."
--Mike Bostock, Creator of D3.js and Founder of Observable
"The work of Nadieh Bremer & Shirley Wu is some of the most beautiful and exciting data visualization work being done today. They bring incredible aesthetics to complex data to enlighten and evoke joy in their audiences. In Data Sketches we get to see some of their best, most personal work and, more than that, we get their explanation of what inspired them and how they accomplished such amazing work. This book is a treat for both the eye and the mind."
--Elijah Meeks, Executive Director of the Data Visualization Society and Author
"This book brings the perfect blend of ingredients together for a nourishing recipe of inspiration and knowledge beneficial to beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Nadieh and Shirley are generational talents. Through their data visualisation work they relentlessly exhibit a wide spectrum of capabilities across the creative, editorial, analytical, and technical dimensions. Above all, they are wonderful communicators. They know how to skilfully communicate to audiences through data. And now, through this book, they share detailed stories of their process giving us the privilege of learning what, why and how they do what they do."
--Andy Kirk, Data Visualisation Specialist, Author, and Editor of visualisingdata.com
"Nadieh Bremer and Shirley Wu are wondrous eccentrics. Their splendid book is the product of a collaborative experimental project, Data Sketches, that might be one of the first exponents of an emerging visualization orthodoxy in which uniqueness is paramount and templates and conventions are viewed with scepticism."
--Alberto Cairo, Knight Chair at the University of Miami and Author - from the Foreword
"Nadieh Bremer and Shirley Wu’s Data Sketches collaboration is a great example of what you can do with data visualization beyond a standard chart. They show that visualization can be both useful and beautiful. They show the many possibilities when you put thought into the data and the visuals. The best part of Data Sketches is that Bremer and Wu documented their processes, so that you can learn the tools they used, the messiness of the data, and how they get over the bumps along the way."
--Nathan Yau, Creator of FlowingData and Author
"Written in an approachable, first-person angle, this book is a delightful behind-the-scenes look at the process for creating any sophisticated data visualization. It provides many personal tips for every stage of development, from data collection and analysis, to sketching and final production. The authors have done a tremendous job in demystifying a normally opaque practice. They made it seem so easy you will want to start on your own project right away."
--Manual Lima, Design Lead, Author, Mentor, and Lecturer. RSA Fellow. TED Speaker. Founder of VisualComplexity.com.
"As an educator focused on computational media, I consistently point students towards Shirley and Nadieh's work for inspiration. I am so thrilled and excited that they've synthesized years of hard work and exploration into Data Sketches, which is now my go-to resource for coders interested in creative expression and storytelling with data!"
--Dan Shiffman, Author, Director of The Processing Foundation, Associate Arts Professor at ITP/IMA, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU
"A visual duet to savor! This tag-team visualization bonanza is a total knockout!"
--Jim Vallandingham, Data Visualization Designer and Data Scientist at Zymergen
"The Data Sketches collaboration is a glorious tour de force: two people spur each other along a remarkable spiral of visualization creativity, and let the rest of us come along for the ride! Nadieh and Shirley share their sketches and code, experiments and explorations, reflections and realizations, eurekas and backtracks, and infectious enthusiasm. They each bring a unique vector, voice, and style to the 12 project topics; what unites them is deep technical chops and a superlative eye for design."
--Tamara Munzner, Professor of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia, Former Chair of the Executive Committee of IEEE Visualization, Author of Visualization Analysis and Design
"What a rare treat it is for Shirley and Nadieh to share their process so openly! We see not only the technical work―prototyping with real data, riffing from examples―but the circuitous emotional journey from rough concept to polished final product. Shirley and Nadieh are honest, entertaining, and insightful in their retrospectives. For anyone interested in visualization, their stories are a powerful lesson of how designs can be shaped to communicate effectively and with intent. And their openness and humility make the practice less intimidating, inviting newcomers to get started."
--Mike Bostock, Creator of D3.js and Founder of Observable
"The work of Nadieh Bremer & Shirley Wu is some of the most beautiful and exciting data visualization work being done today. They bring incredible aesthetics to complex data to enlighten and evoke joy in their audiences. In Data Sketches we get to see some of their best, most personal work and, more than that, we get their explanation of what inspired them and how they accomplished such amazing work. This book is a treat for both the eye and the mind."
--Elijah Meeks, Executive Director of the Data Visualization Society and Author
"This book brings the perfect blend of ingredients together for a nourishing recipe of inspiration and knowledge beneficial to beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Nadieh and Shirley are generational talents. Through their data visualisation work they relentlessly exhibit a wide spectrum of capabilities across the creative, editorial, analytical, and technical dimensions. Above all, they are wonderful communicators. They know how to skilfully communicate to audiences through data. And now, through this book, they share detailed stories of their process giving us the privilege of learning what, why and how they do what they do."
--Andy Kirk, Data Visualisation Specialist, Author, and Editor of visualisingdata.com
"Nadieh Bremer and Shirley Wu are wondrous eccentrics. Their splendid book is the product of a collaborative experimental project, Data Sketches, that might be one of the first exponents of an emerging visualization orthodoxy in which uniqueness is paramount and templates and conventions are viewed with scepticism."
--Alberto Cairo, Knight Chair at the University of Miami and Author - from the Foreword
"Nadieh Bremer and Shirley Wu’s Data Sketches collaboration is a great example of what you can do with data visualization beyond a standard chart. They show that visualization can be both useful and beautiful. They show the many possibilities when you put thought into the data and the visuals. The best part of Data Sketches is that Bremer and Wu documented their processes, so that you can learn the tools they used, the messiness of the data, and how they get over the bumps along the way."
--Nathan Yau, Creator of FlowingData and Author
"Written in an approachable, first-person angle, this book is a delightful behind-the-scenes look at the process for creating any sophisticated data visualization. It provides many personal tips for every stage of development, from data collection and analysis, to sketching and final production. The authors have done a tremendous job in demystifying a normally opaque practice. They made it seem so easy you will want to start on your own project right away."
--Manuel Lima, Design Lead, Author, Mentor, and Lecturer. RSA Fellow. TED Speaker. Founder of VisualComplexity.com.
"The story behind the magic is sometimes the most magical. Data Sketches is a landmark event in data visualization. Finally, Shirley Wu and Nadieh Bremer reveal how they brought it to life. Go with two of the world’s best interactive makers deep behind-the-scenes. See how it works―and all the drafts it took to get there. Learn from many comparisons: between Wu and Bremer and across the trajectory of their twenty-four stories. After immersing yourself in Data Sketches you will emerge inspired." -- RJ Andrews, Data Storyteller, Author, and Creator of Info We Trust.
"As an educator focused on computational media, I consistently point students towards Shirley and Nadieh's work for inspiration. I am so thrilled and excited that they've synthesized years of hard work and exploration into Data Sketches, which is now my go-to resource for coders interested in creative expression and storytelling with data!"
--Dan Shiffman, Author, Director of The Processing Foundation, Associate Arts Professor at ITP/IMA, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU
"A visual duet to savor! This tag-team visualization bonanza is a total knockout!"
--Jim Vallandingham, Data Visualization Designer and Data Scientist at Zymergen
“Lay-chart readers cannot appreciate the expertise and thousands of decisions that go into a single visualization, but this wonderful behind-the-scenes peek reveals how there is never just one ‘right’ answer, but many possible answers ― each of them beautiful, provocative, and shaped by the unique lens of its creator.”
--Scott Murray, Author and Designer, O'Reilly media
About the Author
Nadieh Bremer is an astronomer turned data scientist turned freelancing data visualization designer. Shirley Wu studied business and finance, graduated as a software engineer, and is now an independent data visualization designer. Connected by a mutual love for visualizing data, they bring a unique approach to visualization and refuse to be tied down by convention and available tools. The results are beautiful, innovative, and inspiring.
They are both award-winning and internationally recognized data visualization designers. Their past clients include Google, UNESCO, SFMOMA, and the New York Times.
Product details
- Publisher : A K Peters/CRC Press; 1st edition (February 9, 2021)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 428 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0367000121
- ISBN-13 : 978-0367000127
- Item Weight : 3.12 pounds
- Dimensions : 0.95 x 8.98 x 11 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,389,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #644 in Data Mining (Books)
- #960 in Game Programming
- #11,757 in Sociology Reference
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
Nadieh Bremer is a graduated astronomer, turned data scientist, turned freelancing data visualization designer. She's worked for companies such as Google, UNESCO, Scientific American, and the New York Times. As 2017’s “Best Individual” in the Information is Beautiful Awards, she focuses on uniquely-crafted data visualizations that are both effective and visually appealing for print and online.
Shirley Wu is an award-winning creative focused on data-driven art and visualizations. She has worked with clients such as Google, The Guardian, Scientific American, and SFMOMA to develop custom, highly interactive data visualizations. She combines her love of art, math, and code into colorful, compelling narratives that push the boundaries of the web. Her work can be found at sxywu.com.
Customer reviews
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Awesome piece of Art, Pragmatic learning - Initially reluctant to pay the price, then WOW...
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2024Me encantó, simplemente vale la pena el precio por este libro. Son cerca de 500 páginas a todo color y que muestra paso a paso la data :)
- Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2022I have been in the the data field for 5 years, constantly feeling this is not exactly what I want for my job, but I want to stay in the data field. I accidenttaly found the Datasketch website as well as datacinnamon. I really appreciate the work you guys are doing and it inspired me to become a data design developer! Even this job is not that popular right now, but I see the future of it and I absolutely love what I doing with data!
Ever since I followed the data sketch, I started and mastered R as well as on my way to becomg a full stack developer so I can make myself starting on those beautiful viz. However, I noticed the data sketch website doesn't run anymore, so I decided at least I would like to keep the book so I can inspire by it whenever I want.
Ladies, thank you for the big inspiration, and keep up the good work! I am a big fan!
- Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2021This book is gorgeous! It’s a beautiful, in depth look at how great data visualizations are created, from idea to sketches to iteration to completion. You’ll be astounded by the east even complex visualizations are made both useful and accessible. This is a book that’s worth at least twice the cover price—so glad to have preordered mine and gotten it right away!
UPDATE: I've thoroughly read the entire book now and it's literally so amazing it makes my stomach hurt. Data Sketches is clearly a labor of love by two people who are deeply knowledgeable in their field and want to help others create visualizations as beautiful and insightful as theirs. As a dataviz professional, my only complaint is that I wish I had written this book myself!
- Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2021I work at the edges of this field. I collect books. As a book this tome is very large, big and beautifully designed. As a practitioner the case studies and stories are hugely informative. They aren't just prescriptive recipes, they walk you through the art and craft of producing these "living infographics". The stories are human and relatable. You get enough detail to improvise on your own. Just got through the first two cases and already in love with this book enough to take time out to write this. I can't see how this would work on the Kindle. Go for the print version. It really needs a coffee table to hold it ;-)
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome piece of Art, Pragmatic learning - Initially reluctant to pay the price, then WOW...I work at the edges of this field. I collect books. As a book this tome is very large, big and beautifully designed. As a practitioner the case studies and stories are hugely informative. They aren't just prescriptive recipes, they walk you through the art and craft of producing these "living infographics". The stories are human and relatable. You get enough detail to improvise on your own. Just got through the first two cases and already in love with this book enough to take time out to write this. I can't see how this would work on the Kindle. Go for the print version. It really needs a coffee table to hold it ;-)
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2021
Images in this review - Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2023Fantastic book!
- Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2021From a design perspective: This book is astounding! The size, design, cover, and explosion of color make a topic that could seem "technical" or academic feel so much more fun and approachable. It is very clear that Shirley and Nadieh have put a lot of heart, thought, and care into the making of this book.
From a content perspective: As a casual reader of the Data Sketches blog I was delighted to see reflections and lessons that go beyond what you can find on their blog (where it all began). I wasn't sure how they were going to explain some of the thinking and mechanics behind the interactive media they discuss, but they do it seamlessly. The real magic of this project is the fact that Shirley and Nadieh are inviting readers into their brains, sharing the details of their thought process and the many iterations/side roads taken which ultimately lead to a final destination they couldn't have imagined at the outset. I also appreciate the mini technical "lessons" they include-- as someone who doesn't code myself, I still appreciated learning about the mechanics that influence their decisions.
If you are someone who enjoys reading about the creative process, do yourself a favor and invest in a copy of this book for your library.
From a design perspective: This book is astounding! The size, design, cover, and explosion of color make a topic that could seem "technical" or academic feel so much more fun and approachable. It is very clear that Shirley and Nadieh have put a lot of heart, thought, and care into the making of this book.
From a content perspective: As a casual reader of the Data Sketches blog I was delighted to see reflections and lessons that go beyond what you can find on their blog (where it all began). I wasn't sure how they were going to explain some of the thinking and mechanics behind the interactive media they discuss, but they do it seamlessly. The real magic of this project is the fact that Shirley and Nadieh are inviting readers into their brains, sharing the details of their thought process and the many iterations/side roads taken which ultimately lead to a final destination they couldn't have imagined at the outset. I also appreciate the mini technical "lessons" they include-- as someone who doesn't code myself, I still appreciated learning about the mechanics that influence their decisions.
If you are someone who enjoys reading about the creative process, do yourself a favor and invest in a copy of this book for your library.
Images in this review - Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2021As a data enthusiast I was unfortunately disappointed in this book. It was an interesting concept but hard to read and follow for me. Cool idea and decent office coffee table material.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2021DATA SKETCHES captures the magic of the authors' original digital antiphony: Shirley Wu and Nadieh Bremer, two of the world's most impressive interactive creators, respond each chapter to a different topical prompt.
It is exciting to observe the collaboration between these two masters. Their resulting effort pushes the craft of data visualization to new heights. Bremer's "Royal Constellations" is a perfect graph explorer, an instant classic. Wu's "Hamilton" broke new ground by showing us how much joy could be had with abstract dots.
Across the project, and throughout the VERY large book, their technical achievements and playful personalities never compete. Instead, they augment the journey—delivering an experience that delights and inspires.
DATA SKETCHES captures the magic of the authors' original digital antiphony: Shirley Wu and Nadieh Bremer, two of the world's most impressive interactive creators, respond each chapter to a different topical prompt.
It is exciting to observe the collaboration between these two masters. Their resulting effort pushes the craft of data visualization to new heights. Bremer's "Royal Constellations" is a perfect graph explorer, an instant classic. Wu's "Hamilton" broke new ground by showing us how much joy could be had with abstract dots.
Across the project, and throughout the VERY large book, their technical achievements and playful personalities never compete. Instead, they augment the journey—delivering an experience that delights and inspires.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
- TiagoReviewed in Brazil on August 17, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful journey
If you're into Data Visualization, there's a good chance you already know Nadieh's and Shirley's work. They are widely regarded today as two of the most prominent (and creative) members of the flourishing Data Visualization community. When writing about the opposition of "orthodoxy and eccentricity" in data visualization, Alberto Cairo declares that "Nadieh Bremer and Shirley Wu are wondrous eccentrics. Their splendid book is the product of a collaborative experimental project, Data Sketches, that might be one of the first exponents of an emerging visualization orthodoxy in which uniqueness is paramount and templates and conventions are seen with skepticism".
The structure of their collaboration, as they recount in the book, was simple: "12 months, 12 topics, 12 projects each. We would gather our own data, create our own design, and code our visualizations from scratch, while also documenting the whole process".
And that last bit was what really got me hooked and fascinated about them, when I discovered their work, a few years ago: for each project, they (generously, openly) wrote detailed write-ups, full with sketches, ideas, bits of code, prototypes. It was so inspiring, I dare say they inspired a whole generation of data visualization practioners.
When I heard they would be publishing the write-ups (and extending them) into a big, coffee table book, I knew I had to have it at home.
The book is part memoir (mostly), part technical book, part design book. You won't "learn" data visualization with it (although you might learn some interesting concepts, tips and interesting approaches). But you'll dive into the process of two brilliant professionals. And, most important of all: you'll definitely get inspired to learn more, to experiment more, to try different approaches, wherever you are in your dataviz journey.
I loved this book so so much. I had read some of the write-ups online when they came out, but having them "materialized" in such a beautiful form gives them another dimension. Sometimes stuff on the web seems so "impermanent", and I think the book really honors the work, the dedication, the generosity of sharing, teaching and opening up. In the last few weeks, when my wife and kids were fast asleep, I would sneak into the office (because you need a table to read such an ENORMOUS book) and read a couple of chapters, savoring it all. It was so delightful, it was like listening with the mind to these wonderful people recounting their ideas, their excitement, their frustrations, like I was listening to two friends talking about their latest exciting projects, their joys, their challenges.
- Judit B.Reviewed in Germany on December 18, 2023
3.0 out of 5 stars Poor quality cover
I'm sure the content of the book is great but unfortunately the cover is too thin and very poor quality. Mine arrived dogeared in all corners and the front cover is already torn. I'm almost sure it's not Amazon to blame for the delivery this time, even though the package wasn't in a mint condition either.
I'm really disappointed because I was looking forward to reading this book but it goes back. I would expect more from a book that costs 50€.
Judit B.
Reviewed in Germany on December 18, 2023
I'm really disappointed because I was looking forward to reading this book but it goes back. I would expect more from a book that costs 50€.
Images in this review - DENES CSALAReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Just beautiful
Great companion to the website - I use it a teaching tool.
- Oren BahariReviewed in Australia on July 5, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book for non traditional data viz
For a book where all the information is already online, this was surprisingly superb. The book is large and beautiful, despite other reviews on printing, it was high quality and would fit nicely on any bookshelf unlike most textbooks. Felt like I had to support Nadieh and Shirley for all the amazing free content they made in the past, but I found I loved it in itself. I hope they keep making content, especially technical content! Nuanced data viz stuff which goes beyond “this is a bar chart”, is hard to find.
- Colm QuinnReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Book looks great, but arrived dog eared and dirty
Book looks great, but arrived dog eared and dirty
Colm Quinn
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2021
Images in this review