Potential Bias in Creative Chart Design: A Review of Nontraditional Financial Graphs in Corporate Annual Reports

摘要

The cliche "a picture is worth a thousand words" highlights how graphical representation facilitates clear, concise, and impactful communication. As human eyes are more sensitive to colors and shapes than to words, data is processed and encoded in a manner that our eyes can discern and our brains can comprehend. The term data visualization describes the process of displaying abstract information for communication and sense making. Often rich in colors, symbols, animations, or other visual cues, data visualization makes use of graphs, charts, or tables to convey information, evoke feelings, and provoke actions. Essentially, creating better data visualization is a design exercise in engaging users to consume boring data. It not only enhances effective and efficient information exchanges, but also alleviates information overload and supports data analytics, especially when the underlying patterns or trends are complicated or intertwined. However, using data visualization to enhance user experience can be a double-edged sword. Fancy graphics can appeal to users visually or aesthetically but might lead to both intended and unintended interpretations.