Free Graph Icon Set – Smashing Magazine
I guess this is the result when you have a web designer creating data visualizations without any insight from the experts in the field. Here is what the creator wrote about the icons.
“In general the idea was to create a stock-like collection of widely usable graphs with a professional look and feel. The initial idea was to create a singe graph icon, which was then extended and “The Graphs” was born. During work on various corporate projects I often find myself in the need of simple graphs to show the success of my client (to graphically represent progress), and I don’t always have the time to make custom graphs. That’s why I created “The Graphs”. I needed a nest for graphs, so I made one.
” (source)
What really blew my mind – the comments left. There were a few critics, but most were fans. Here are some that stuck out:
- It’s good , but not great. Simple.
- not bad at all.
gr8 stuff keep em coming - great work…shiny and clean
- Excellent graph design.
- Great set. Thanks smashing magazine!!
- Looks very very very nice!!!
- Thank you very very very much
! - Very nice set. Thanks.
What do you think – Shiny and clean or ineffective and gaudy?
Most Commented Posts
November 12th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Smashing Magazine has a history of promoting the flashiest and most useless charts. They’re obviously not interested in charts for data, the problem is just that people may think that this is the way to go.
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November 12th, 2008 at 9:42 am
If used solely as an icon to represent a report, dashboard, presentation, etc. these are pretty cool; however, it appears that the author’s intentions are to use these as a display to represent real data. In that case, these are abysmal. May the laptops of those who use these for true data visualizations snap shut and cleave their hands from their wrists.
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November 12th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Considering the creator’s goal was to “with a professional look and feel”, I say gaudy.
I agree with John, they make nice icons, but the design will interfere with properly presenting real information.
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November 12th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
@Peter @John – I would have to politely disagree with the point about these being good icons. If you want to see an example of an excellent icon, check out the favicon at this site: http://tinyurl.com/gyvnk. A favicon is the little symbol to the left of the URL box in your browser.
@Robert – By taking a look at their site, I would agree with your statement. What really put me over the edge was the comments that were left praising the design.
Let me put this question out there: What do you do if your manager is not a data guru and expects flashy and gaudy? Do you appease them or go against the flow?
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November 12th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Tony wrote:
“What do you do if your manager is not a data guru and expects flashy and gaudy?”
You start with the key principle: Keep It Simple. Use color to add the flash, but do so sparingly. I prefer subdued hues, so a louder color would make a charts pop.
The message is more powerful when you clear all the clutter and noise and draw people into the information. You hold their attention rather than distract them with cool borders and angles.
Design should enhance the message, not distract from it.
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November 12th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Whenever I see the word “professional” applied to multicolored freak shows that look like a CNN intro, I can only imagine the profession they have in mind is “clown”.
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November 13th, 2008 at 5:10 am
“During work on various corporate projects I often find myself in the need of simple graphs to show the success of my client ”
He says he needs to show the success of his client. That is very different from presenting data for analytical purposes.
I have a simple rule of thumb: the flashier the graph, the more I question the presenter and his data.
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November 13th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Derek -
This is from the first paragraph of the ironically titled What happened to my favorite Excel 2003 Chart feature?:
“You can now create professional-looking charts with special effects, such as realistic 3-D, transparency, and soft shadows.”
Clowns indeed.
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November 13th, 2008 at 11:24 am
TB wrote, “I have a simple rule of thumb: the flashier the graph, the more I question the presenter and his data.”
Exactly.
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November 13th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I was referring to their “Modern Approaches to Data Visualization” articles in 2007 and 2008. There are a few good examples that slipped in, but most of it is bad – flashy and interesting to look at, but does not convey any information.
When googling for these pages, I typed in “flashing magazine” by mistake …
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December 1st, 2008 at 7:30 am
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