Critical Visualization

Debunking the idea that data is ever ‘raw’ or unbiased, this book brings information anxiety to a new level as it goes deep into the underlying power structures at play in the assemblage of data and the motivations of those who amass it. Hall and Dávila explain how design’s focus on clarity and statistical accuracy can serve to enhance dominant narratives inherent in the data and challenge designers to activate their agency to visualize the kind of world in which we want to live. This should be required reading in any data visualization or information design curriculum. -- Thomas Starr, Professor of Graphic and Information Design, Northeastern University, USA
Hall and Dávila make a compelling argument for a critical approach to data visualization. Through a comprehensive survey of extant literature, a rereading of canonical images through decolonizing frameworks, and discussion of highly topical debates, they arrive at a rich examination of current projects drawn from a wide array of activities. They address self-quantification, smart cities, emotional cartography, and a whole host of specific and activist interventions in conventional data practices. Ultimately, they argue for visualizations that might create alternatives to dominant conventions and the oppressive power asymmetries of the status quo. -- Johanna Drucker, Distinguished Professor of Information Studies, UCLA, USA
With acuity and depth, Hall and Dávila demonstrate just how much history, culture and context matter for the design and interpretation of data visualization. Their book is timely and important, and will usher in a new era of critical data practice. -- Lauren Klein, Winship Distinguished Research Professor, Departments of English and Quantitative Theory and Methods, Emory University, USA