interweb shoutout: flowingdata

A few months ago I discovered this amazing site called FlowingData, which I urge you to check out. It blends together statistical information and graphic design in such a way that it makes sometimes complex data pop out and literally dance in front of you.

FlowingData was created by Nathan Yau, a statistician who also loves design. He has clearly found his calling in putting FlowingData together, since the site seamlessly melds the two fields to create and present maps, charts, and diagrams that are sometimes serious (they have a whole section of graphics to explain the financial collapse we're in), sometimes whimsical (like the chart of heavy metal band names), and always informative. I particularly love that some of the infographics are "moving," in the sense that they add data sequentially in order to convey a sense of time. That was the case, for instance, in charts tracking the seemingly lightning-speed expansion of Target and Wal-Mart across the United States, as the video above shows.

If you're interested in the use of graphics to convey information, definitely take some time to explore FlowingData. You can also subscribe to the RSS or email feeds to keep abreast of new content. ∞