I remember way back in the day (in 2000) when you had to read the online newspaper classifieds to find a good rental property. Now there are many options for finding the ultimate pad. (more…)

I’m always looking for a way to better communicate visually, and recently I’ve stumbled on the Holy Grail of data visualization methodologies. I was doing a Google search on “graphic facilitation” and I found the Swiss website, visual-literacy.org. (more…)

Today, while back visiting family in Philadelphia, I visited the new National Constitution Center in Old City. At first I was skeptical about how an entire building could be dedicated to the US Constitution. I thought it would be wordy, boring and un-interactive. I was dead wrong and pleasantly surprised.

In a testament to thoughtful design, the NCC was a journey through the origin, making and continued evolution of the US Constitution. Visitors enter through the Kimmel Theater where they are greeted with a hybrid visual, theatrical and audio presentation which immerses and excited the audience. Once the presentation has completed, visitors exit through the second floor where the interaction begins.

Following a circular path, visitors interact with various kiosks and displays which breakdown aspects, history and principles of the US Constitution. While browsing and learning I watched families debate legal decisions, children role play presidential inauguration, and review and decide on legal issues. As you exit the NCC there is Signer’s Hall where all the original signers of the US Constitution are replicated in full size bronze. Visitors are asked to mix with the signers and leave their signature on a mock Constitution.

I left the NCC with a full appreciation for the United States and our Constitution. I learned more in 1 hour then in 22 years of schooling and 9 additional years of self-education and life’s teachings. That 1 hour presented the Constitution in a way that evoked all my senses (but smell). I was engaged by the layout, design and presentation in such a way that it made learning enjoyable. Without being corny I had to fight from getting teary-eyed because the presentation was that powerful.

Go check it out for yourself. http://www.constitutioncenter.org/ 

Discover Magazine recently posted a graphic showing the ever changing gravitational pattern on the Earth. For one, I had no idea the Earth’s gravity continually changed (I guess I missed that physics lesson). Yet the visual clearly brings home the point.

Edward Tufte has been a great leader in the field of data visualization. His ability to break down the complicated into the simple visual messages has been his trademark for years. Tufte’s two greatest examples of the benefit of data visualization (in my opinion) has been his work on describing the events of the Challenger disaster before lift-off and his work on visualizing Napoleon’s march to Moscow.

To learn more about Edward Tufte, visit his website.