A quick history of data viz - Illustrator Tutorial

- [Narrator] The graphic representation of data, AKA data visualization, has been our go-to method for understanding how numbers correlate to one another for centuries. Maps, which have been around for at least 8,000 years, are considered the first form of data visualization, combining, scale distance, latitude, and longitude, at minimum. There are early records of an 11th century scribe plotting the movement of planets through the sky, but the first ever line and bar graphs that we know of for certain were developed as early as 1786, when William Playfair released "The Commercial and Political Atlas". For example, this is the first known bar graph in history. Playfair wanted to determine which locations drove the most import and exports for Scotland, and he wanted to present this information in a way that the average person could understand. With literacy levels still not equal among different socioeconomic classes, he chose to create a visual representation of the information rather than a text-based explanation for ease of understanding and dissemination. Playfair would go on to invent the pie chart, area graphs, and much more, all in his pursuit of understanding and fact-finding. It was around this time that data visualizations started to become more popular because societies around the globe were beginning to collect and publish an abundance of data to better understand their place in the world. Data visualizations weren't just used to make sense of data though. They were used to drive progress. For example, when a late 18th century movement to lower the cost of labor in the UK arose in response to higher wheat costs, Playfair created this graph to prove that the cost of labor did not correlate with the cost of wheat. In fact, labor costs were rising far slower than the rising cost of wheat, and this single data visualization helped to quell a potential labor disaster. As populations grew and sprawled, data visualizations were used to better understand crime rates, population health, and financial security. These visualizations informed laws, responses to epidemics, and so much more. Now you might be wondering why this history matters. How is it going to help you deliver great data visualizations today? And I can answer that with a familiar turn of phrase. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! The data viz that we know today has been around for far longer than we have. It is a universal form of communication that can speak to almost anyone regardless of language, location, or circumstances. It has stood the test of time because it works, and it works really, really well. So when you visualize data, whether it be for internal reasons or commercial pursuits, don't try to dress it up for the sake of eye candy. Don't try to make it so unique that it defeats the purpose. Instead, lean into the fact that traditional charts and graphs can connect with almost anyone. Take advantage of our universal vernacular for data visualization, and you'll see far more success than those who try to make something pop in hopes of wowing their audience.