Edward R. Tufte

design rescue failed content

“Design cannot rescue failed content.”

― Edward R. Tufte

graphical excellence iewer idea time ink space

“Graphical excellence is that which gives to the viewer the greatest number of ideas in the shortest time with the least ink in the smallest space.”

― Edward R. Tufte

clutter confusion design information

“Clutter and confusion are failures of design, not attributes of information.”

― Edward R. Tufte

PowerPoint egypt flatland Renaissance visual representation

“PowerPoint is like being trapped in the style of early Egyptian flatland cartoons rather than using the more effective tools of Renaissance visual representation.”

― Edward R. Tufte

empty space used information arranged

“It is not how much empty space there is, but rather how it is used. It is not how much information there is, but rather how effectively it is arranged.”

― Edward R. Tufte

comparison scope eyespan

“Comparisons must be enforced within the scope of the eyespan, a fundamental point occasionally forgotten in practice.”

― Edward R. Tufte

rectangle computer screen real world plant dog book opera

“I have stared long enough at the glowing flat rectangles of computer screens. Let us give more time for doing things in the real world . . . plant a plant, walk the dogs, read a real book, go to the opera.”

― Edward R. Tufte

drug dealer software company customer user

"Only drug dealers and software companies call their customers 'users'"

― Edward R. Tufte

good design clear thinking visible bad stupidity

"Good design is clear thinking made visible, bad design is stupidity made visible"

― Edward R. Tufte

clutter property information failure design

"Clutter is not a property of information. Clutter is a failure of design."

― Edward R. Tufte

world complex multidimensional represent flatland

"The world is complex, dynamic, multidimensional;

the paper is static, flat. How are we to represent

the rich visual world of experience and

measurement on mere flatland?"

― Edward R. Tufte

words image point dance color relevant

"If your words or images are not on point, making them dance in color won't make them relevant."

― Edward R. Tufte

content information interface computer-administrative debris

"The idea is that the content is the interface, the information is the interface, not computer-administrative debris."

― Edward R. Tufte

open mind empty head

"An open mind but not an empty head."

― Edward R. Tufte

information overload bad design clutter confuse

"There is no such thing as information overload, just bad design. If something is cluttered and/or confusing, fix your design."

― Edward R. Tufte

audience boredom content failure decoration

"Audience boredom is usually a content failure, not a decoration failure."

― Edward R. Tufte

PowerPoint resemble school play loud slow simple

"PowerPoint presentations too often resemble a school play - very loud, very slow, and very simple."

― Edward R. Tufte