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Information Design Journal
Vol. 25:3 (2019) ► pp.278–293

The DNA of information design for charts and diagrams

A comprehensive framework is presented for analyzing and specifying an extensive range of visualizations, such as statistical charts, maps, family trees, Venn diagrams, flow charts, texts using indenting, technical drawings and scientific illustrations. This paper describes how the fundamental ‘DNA’ building blocks of visual encoding and composition can be combined into ‘visualization patterns’ that specify these and other types of visualizations. We offer different ways of specifying each visualization pattern, including through a DNA tree diagram and through a rigorously systematic natural language sentence. Using this framework, a design tool is proposed for exploring visualization design options.
Keywords: visual encoding, graphic language, visual grammar, visualization patterns, chart types, design space, diagrammatic DNA
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Methodology
  • 3.The DNA framework of visualization
  • 4.Specification with tree diagrams and with natural language
  • 5.Types of information that can be represented visually
  • 6.Visual encodings
  • 7.Directions and layout principles
  • 8.Visual components
  • 9.Modes of visual encoding, depiction, and correspondence
  • 10.Mode of correspondence
  • 11.Mode of depiction
  • 12.Reference elements
  • 13.Visual treatment
  • 14.Using the DNA framework as a design tool
  • 15.Discussion and conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 22 October 2020
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https://doi.org/10.1075/idj.25.3.05ric
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Cited by (2)

Cited by two other publications

Engelhardt, Yuri & Clive Richards
2021. A Universal Grammar for Specifying Visualization Types. In Diagrammatic Representation and Inference [Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 12909], ► pp. 395 ff. DOI logo
[no author supplied]
2023. Beck at 90. The Cartographic Journal 60:4 ► pp. 264 ff. DOI logo

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