The Art and Beauty of Informing: Subjective Information, Vorstellung, and Aesthetics in Information Visualization

Abstract

This paper differentiates objective from subjective views of information, emphasizing the role of human intentionality and creativity in the informing process. Combining Schopenhauer’s aesthetics with the subjective theory of information, we reconceive data representation as an art form. Using a case study of Tableau’s best practices, we show how intentional creativity can transform ‘objective data’ into meaningful and aesthetic visualizations, fostering deep emotions and profound insights. This approach can reconcile environmental complexity and ambiguity, thereby enriching the human experience. However, it carries the risk of seduction through beautiful, but misleading, information, necessitating a shift in focus from useful to responsible data representation.