The Terror of Trail Running in Autumn, and How It Relates to Data Visualization

I love running on the trails behind my house. There is nothing quite like the peaceful quite of the woods, the friendly (but rare) hello with fellow enjoyers-of-trails, even the cold puddles that can't be avoided or the occasional scratch from encroaching branches.

But you know what's terrifying? Running on trails starting in early November. Why? Because this is what the trail looks like during summer and even October.

And this is what it looks like in November.

So all those rocks and roots and things that are just waiting to jump up and snatch you by the ankle, sending you sprawling face-first so you tear up your palms, sprain ligaments and muscles, and maybe lose a tooth...they're nefariously hidden from view.

Yeah, so? What does this have to do with data visualization?

To design anything visual, especially data visuals, you need to understand human visual perception. One of the most important concepts is pre-attentive processing. I talk about it in all of my courses and workshops. Here's a video devoted just to this topic.

You process all visual experiences pre-attentively - very quickly and sub-consciously. This is especially apparent when you're running. You fly along and subconsciously your brain notices the root sticking up that you need to jump over, and the rock in your way that you need to navigate around. You don't have time to think about it, even a slow runner like me can't do it consciously, it has to happen instantaneously. And it works pretty well during the summer when everything is visible.

When everything is hidden under a layer of leaves, though...forget about it. And bear in mind, by mid-November, the leaves on the ground have really piled up AND they aren't colorful any more. The visible difference between an orange leaf and a grey rock from a couple weeks earlier is now less discernible since a flat brown leaf and a grey rock (or a brown root) are closer in color and luminance. It's a mine field.

Suffice to say that this can be nerve-wracking. When your pre-attentive responses are made less sensitive, you have to work much harder to pay attention and try to avoid breaking an ankle and being stuck alone in those silent nearly empty woods crying out in vain for help. (Not spoken from experience...yet.)

This is why when you're designing things, try your best to make sure the parts of the visual you want to stand out really do stand out. Eliminate everything you can and draw the eye to the important stuff. Use position, contrast, shape, and color to make sure the roots and rocks are visible and the leaves don't cover anything up.

Keep your audience from breaking their metaphorical ankles on your treacherous visuals.

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