How do you balance design aesthetics and function?

2 Choose the right format and tools

The next step is to choose the right format and tools for your graphics. Depending on your purpose and audience, you might want to use different types of graphics, such as maps, diagrams, charts, graphs, images, animations, or interactive elements. You also need to consider the medium and platform of your graphics, such as web, print, or mobile. Each format and tool has its own advantages and limitations, so you need to select the ones that best suit your needs and goals. For example, if you are creating a web-based visualization, you might want to use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, or a library like D3.js, to create dynamic and interactive graphics.

3 Apply design principles and best practices

The third step is to apply design principles and best practices to your graphics. Design principles are general guidelines that help you create effective and attractive graphics, such as contrast, alignment, balance, hierarchy, repetition, and unity. Design best practices are specific recommendations that help you avoid common mistakes and pitfalls, such as misleading scales, cluttered layouts, distorted proportions, or inappropriate colors. For example, if you are creating a chart, you might want to use a clear and consistent scale, label your axes and data points, avoid 3D effects or pie charts, and use a color scheme that matches your theme and data.

4 Test and refine your graphics

The final step is to test and refine your graphics. Testing and refining your graphics means checking for errors, inconsistencies, or ambiguities, and making adjustments or improvements based on feedback or data. You can test your graphics by yourself or with others, such as your peers, clients, or users. You can also use tools or methods, such as usability testing, eye tracking, or analytics, to measure the performance and impact of your graphics. For example, if you are creating a visualization for a website, you might want to test how fast it loads, how easy it is to navigate, and how well it conveys your message.

By following these steps, you can balance design aesthetics and function in your computer graphics and visualization projects. Remember that design aesthetics and function are not mutually exclusive, but complementary and interdependent. A good graphic is not only beautiful, but also useful and meaningful.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?