Mekko Charts
I’m a long (long)-time devotee of the iconic Marimekko designs and textiles. I have Marimekko clothes (I’m sure they’re considered vintage now), and in my daughter’s bedroom I splurged on…
Mental Models
Whenever I teach my "data visualization best practices" courses, I always include an introductory overview about mental models - an explanation of a person's thought process about how something works…
“Time is [Not] on My Side”: Using Time Efficiently When Developing Dashboards
In 1657, the French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal apologized for a very lengthy letter he had written thus: "This letter is so long only because I had no time…
The Hammock Chronicles (2016 Edition)
Long-time subscribers to this newsletter know that every August, my family and I retreat to Bustins Island in Casco Bay, Maine, where I commandeer the hammock and contemplate life (along…
My Secret Tip for Testing Data Visualizations
This past Sunday my husband, Bret, our pup, Juno, and I headed out to Deer Island in Massachusetts Bay. We love this walk because of the fantastic views it affords…
David Bowie vs. Alan Gilbert
I recently watched Charlie Rose interview New York Philharmonic conductor Alan Gilbert (pictured at right). During the interview, Gilbert described how he slowly and in small increments moved the Philharmonic…
Love, Time, Environment
As my daughter Annie's tenth birthday approached, our friend Erik asked her what special gift she was hoping for. Without hesitation, Annie responded, "A crane." We all turned and looked…
Let This Chart Fall Off Your Radar
Don't you just hate things that look really cool but simply don't work? You know: the fancy all-in-one kitchen gizmo that cuts nothing but your fingers, or the software that's…
“Lower is Better” – Flip the Display!
Several years ago, we bought a house with a truly fabulous kitchen-high-end everything, including a German-engineered faucet that brought us to our knees trying to figure out how to turn…
Children Can Kill You
Every time my daughter Annie would pull some heart-stopping, daredevil stunt in the swimming pool, on the ski slopes, or while roller-blading with her friends, I would hear two distinct…