Introduction to a talk by Mushon Zer-Aviv at Pixelache in coordination with the Mushrooming Network and the Open Knowledge Festival. Designers, statisticians, journalists, researchers and technologists often apply visualization techniques in an attempt to make sense of large quantities of data. In this rush to create informational imagery both creators and viewers are often taken by the lure of what Edward Tufte defines as "beautiful evidence". But is information visualization indeed just another type of evidence, or is it a form of visual argument? In this workshop we will attempt to problematize and re-politicize the practice of information visualization by deliberately skewing and manipulating the image. We will show how a visualization pieces can easily undermine the data they are based on and tell any story their authors might choose. In the process we will survey several loopholes in information design methodologies and learn how they can be exploited. Participants are invited to bring their own data sets, statistics and quantifiable stories as a starting point towards a somewhat more sinister use of the information. Participants are also invited to base their projects on existing work and use it as an opportunity for reflection. The work produced in the workshop can take the form of a static image, a moving image, an interactive application, an installation or what not. It can be based on existing tools or be a whole new thing in itself. Prior skills in image making and code are a plus, but are not necessarily a per-requisite (if push comes to shove, you can always use PowerPoint). On the flip side, if you are skilled in the craft of infovis (code/form) you can apply to participate for free as a workshop assistant.

1. DIS
INFORMATION
VISUALIZATION
or: How to Lie With DataVis
Before the talk After the talk
@Mushon / March 2014

5. Applied: I'd better stop the car
Context: The traffic light I am driving towards
has turned red
Meaning: South facing traffic light on corner
of Pitt and George streets has turned red
Future Past
WISDOM WISDOM
KNOWLEDGE KNOWLEDGE
INFORMATION INFORMATION
DATA DATA Raw: Red

6. CONTENT / STRUCTURE / PRESENTATION

7. CONTENT / STRUCTURE / PRESENTATION

8. CONTENT / DATA

9. SHOULD
THE KILLING OF BABIES
BE LEGALIZED?

10. SHOULD
ABORTION
BE LEGAL?

11. SHOULD
WOMEN HAVE THE RIGHT
TO THEIR OWN BODIES?

12. STRUCTURE / EDITING

13. WITH RESPECT TO
THE ABORTION ISSUE,
WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF TO BE
PRO-CHOICE OR PRO-LIFE?

16. * From: Cleveland.com

17. * From: ProLifeBlogs.com

18. * From: ProLifeBlogs.com
2011-2012
Abortion Views - all ages
48%
50% 50%
46%
45%
43%
45%
47%

19. PRESENTATION / AESTHETICS

22. * Found on: Good.is

24. "delight both by the
wonder of the spectacle
and the accuracy of
expression."

27. BEAUTIFUL ARGUMENT

28. D!
A!
T!
A
AESTHETICS
MESSAGE

29. A-POLITICAL!
(dog hitting water makes a splash)
DE-POLITICIZED!
(correlation of race and socio-economics
affects abortion rates)
MESSAGE

30. REALITY
GRAPHICS
VISUAL

31. REALITY
GRAPHICS
VISUAL

32. GRAPHICS
VISUAL LANGUAGE
REALITY DATA

33. GRAPHICS
VISUAL LANGUAGE
REALITY DATA

34. GRAPHICS
VISUAL LANGUAGE
REALITY DATA

35. GRAPHICS
VISUAL LANGUAGE
REALITY OBJECTIVE / A-POLITICAL
DATA

36. GRAPHICS
REALITY OBJECTIVE / A-POLITICAL
DATA

37. GRAPHICS
REALITY OBJECTIVE / A-POLITICAL
DATA

38. DISAMBIGUATION
GRAPHICS
REALITY OBJECTIVE / A-POLITICAL
DATA

39. GRAPHICS
REALITY OBJECTIVE / A-POLITICAL
DATA

40. REAMBIGUATION
GRAPHICS
REALITY OBJECTIVE / A-POLITICAL
DATA

41. aasen.in/github_globe/

42. aasen.in/github_globe/
S E A M L E S S

43. uncommongoods.com/product/recycled-army-canvas-bean-bag-chair

44. S E A M F U L
uncommongoods.com/product/recycled-army-canvas-bean-bag-chair