DS-4630 / CS-5630 / CS-6630 - Visualization for Data Science Homework 1

In this assignment, you will write a report that critiques and redesigns two visualizations. You will also investigate how well an LLM can critique a visualization. We provide the first visualization, and you will have to find the second on your own. The goal for this assignment is to get into the mindset of thinking critically about visualizations.

Problem 1: Job Losses and Gains

Please utilize the following visualization by CNBC for this problem.

Jobs Figures according to CNBC

Problem 1A: Critique the visualization, based on the following questions:

  1. What data is represented in this visualization? Be specific.
  2. What questions does the visualization answer?
  3. Describe one aspect of the visualization that is effective.
  4. Describe one aspect of the visualization that is not effective.
  5. Why do you like/dislike the visualization?

Problem 1B: Ask the same questions of an LLM!

  1. First ask each of these questions to an LLM (whichever you like but please report which). Note that you will also need to provide the image and/or a URL to the image to the LLM. Record the transcript of your conversation with the LLM and submit it in your report as an appendix.
  2. Next compare the LLM’s responses to your own. Note any commonalities or discrpencies to the responses.

Problem 1C: Redesign the visualization based upon your critique

Your redesign should be submitted as an image showing a low-fidelity mock-up of your visualization as well as a text description of the design. The mock-up is not expected to be polished. In fact, the preferred way to create this would be to draw it by hand and take a picture. You can use any software to create the image, but you should not write code to create it. While this image is not intended to look like a final product, it should be clear what the proposed design would look like. In addition, your text description should explain why you redesigned the visualization in this way. That is, what are the advantages of showing the data in this way.

Problem 2: Select, Critique, and Redesign a Visualization

  1. Search the internet for a visualization to critique and redesisgn. You have a lot of freedom when picking a visualization to critique–that said you should pick something complex enough to have an interesting critique and redesign. The visualization you pick doesn’t have to be fundamentally flawed. As a rule of thumb, try to pick a visualization that you find interesting in some way. In your report, you should include a static image of this visualization as well as a link to where the visualization came from.
  2. Repeat the 3 steps from Problem 1 (your critique, LLM critique, and redesign) on the visualization you found.

Submitting your work

Submit your final report as a PDF on Canvas. Include the following sections in your report:

  • Title Section - should include your name, your e-mail address, and your UID
  • Problem 1
    • Problem 1A: Your Critique
    • Problem 1B: LLM Critique/Comparison
    • Problem 1C: Redesign
  • Problem 2
    • Your selected visualization
    • Reference / link to your visualization
    • Your Critique
    • LLM Critique/Comparison
    • Redesign
  • Appendix
    • Transcripts of your LLM conversations for Problems 1 and 2

Grading

Your score on this assignment will be as follows:

  • 15%: Critique of provided visualization.
  • 10%: LLM critique/comparison of provided visualization.
  • 20%: Redesign of provided visualization.
  • 10%: Selection of visualization.
  • 15%: Critique of your selected visualization.
  • 10%: LLM critique/comparison of your selected visualization.
  • 20%: Redesign of your selected visualization.