Information Overload Is Just Bad Design

Today I learned about information design from Edward Tufte in a seminar called Presenting Data and Information. Tufte is much better on paper than on stage, but I enjoyed his ideas. More than anything, I was envious of Tufte's extensive knowledge of culturally significant works of art and his ability to integrate them into his research.

Some highlights include 1) watching his white-gloved assistant walk a 17th century book of Galileo's around the room, 2) discovering, thanks to the tea and coffee service, that "green jasmine" tea is the name of the mystery tea served at my favorite dim sum place, 3) receiving four gorgeous books by Tufte to dig into, and finally, 4) learning about Chopin's Op. 57 and the Music Animation Machine, see below