DIAGR AMS Although Diagrams by Arthur Lockwood was written in 1969, it is still useful. If you are a designer eager to gain information about communicating in a graphic and effective way, this might be your book. With a practical approach, Lockwood guides you through the different types of diagrams, explaining each one of them and especially warning you about the disadvantages of choosing the wrong one. Lockwood classifies diagrams in three different categories: statistic diagrams, explicative and statistic maps and explicative diagrams. The first type compares relations between quantitative values; the second one shows qualitative or quantitative information in a specific area; and the third one explains processes or stages. Along with his explanations, Lockwood offers advices about the best diagram to use depending on the
1. Statistical diagrams
information that is going to be represented and warnings about design related problems. All accompanied by a great number of examples that he comments and, sometimes, criticizes. For the readers more interested in visualizing information, the warnings about incorrect visualizations are the most useful part of the book, as they haven’t changed much in 30 years. For example, modifying the relation between vertical and horizontal scales still distorts relations in statistical graphs; projection maps still distort angles and shapes; and circles are still being discussed because of the difficulty of trying to compare their variation. Ultimately, as Lockwood says at the end of the book, the most important and difficult thing to learn is to use the correct method. Everything else, like designing diagrams, can be surpassed with practice.
7 Line graph 18 Divided (compound) line graph 20 Logarithmic graph 22 Scatter graph 26 Bar (column) graph 28 Divided (compound) bar graph 34 Floating bar graph
36 40 42 46 50 52
Population pyramid Bar diagram Block diagram Divided rectangle Circular graph Divided circle (pie or cake graph) 56 Pictorial graph
2. Explanatory and statistical maps
69 72 76 78 80 82 84 86
Weather map Route map Games and battles Color Texture and shading Line and tone Bars Blocks
88 90 92 94 96 98 102 104
3. Explanatory diagrams
110 116 118 122
Flow chart Technical Organization chart Botanical / medical
124 Family tree 128 Tabulation 130 Time chart
Irene de la Torre-Arenas Information Design Studio 1 (Fall 2015) Northeastern University
by Arthur Lockwood
A VISUAL SURVEY OF GRAPHS, CHARTS AND DIAGRAMS FOR THE GRAHIC DESIGNER
Squares Dots and circles Circles and divided circles Symbols - non quantitative Symbols - cuantitative Distorted map (cartogram) Ray map Flow map
Distorted map: British counties according to their electoral strength. The 40,320 small squares represent distribution of electors and distribution of population.
Explanatory diagram: manufacture of rayon. The main design problem is reducing information to the essential without distorting it.
Published in an atlas and made by Dr. T. H. Hollingsworth.
Published in a business publication of SocietĂŠ de la Viscose Suisse.