Oct 8, 2015 9:00 AM

Gallery: What Infographics Looked Like Before Computers

Graphic Presentation
01
graphicpresentat00brinrich-0085
*Graphic Presentation*, a book written in 1939 by graphics pioneer Willard Cope Brinton, is a window into the graphics-making boom that happened before the computer era. To better prepare people for a new era of data, Brinton outlines several techniques for creating clear graphics—like this flow chart.
Graphic Presentation
02
graphicpresentat00brinrich-0084
Obviously, you couldn't just whip this up in InDesign. These Cosmographs were made by hand, by layering hundreds of sheets of paper together, and the splicing off the sides to show different values.

Graphic Presentation
03
graphicpresentat00brinrich-0200
Another manual method for for representing geographic distribution data is the dot and pin map, where you stringing beads onto thread or onto tiny drill rods.
Graphic Presentation
04
graphicpresentat00brinrich-0051
This classification chart shows "the relation between aviation and 'everybody' in the United States in 1937." It shows how taxpayer dollars towards the aviation industry benefit a host of other industries as well.

Graphic Presentation
05
graphicpresentat00brinrich-0057
Brinton points out that graphics as a micro-industry might be an unlikely byproduct of the early 20th century wars:, because of "the feverish demand for prompt and reliable data." This chart shows the self-sufficiency of the Great Powers in 1934 based on natural resources.
Graphic Presentation
06
graphicpresentat00brinrich-0101
Here, an example of what Brinton calls a "100% bar chart," or a percentage chart. This one outlines all the allocations for labor costs in New York.

Graphic Presentation
07
1graphicpresentat00brinrich-0390
Brinton goes to detailed lengths to make sure his readers have the tools necessary to make clear graphic presentations. This page even points out where certain elements of a data visualization, like reference notes and time scales, belong.
Graphic Presentation
08
1graphicpresentat00brinrich-0257
Time is typically presented as a straight line, but that line needs to be widened for chronology charts, to shade in different values.

Graphic Presentation
09
1graphicpresentat00brinrich-0250
Distorted maps are an infographic technique favored by today's data designers, as they help neatly explain the differences (and often, the disparities) between the way different groups of people live. This crude version of a distorted map from 1930 shows population density in the United States.

The Audacity Is the Broligarchy Takedown You Were Waiting For

AMC’s new black comedy about a manchild tech titan spinning out of control is a skewering Silicon Valley’s billionaire class deserves.

Miles Klee

A Lot of Shops Won't Fix Electric Bikes. Here's Why

Bike shop mechanics have lost fingers and their shirts while repairing ebikes of dubious origins. Make sure yours is repairable and third-party certified.

Stephanie Pearson

It’s a Tablet! It’s a Laptop! After Testing the Best 2-in-1s, Here’s What I Recommend

Whether you want a detachable tablet or a laptop screen that spins, these 2-in-1 devices manage to balance being both a tablet and a laptop.

Luke Larsen

There’s a Secret Ingredient to Making Luxury Ice at Home

Nice ice is big business, but you can get perfectly clear cubes at home without freezing your assets.

Jeremy White

The Screenmaxxers Who Spend Every Waking Hour on Their Phones

As debates over social media addiction rage, people with extreme screen times tell WIRED they have no plans to cut back.

Miles Klee

Mammotion’s Spino E1 Pool Cleaner Isn’t Bad for the Price—It's Just Not That Good

This compact pool robot keeps its price down, but its performance doesn’t match that of more capable cleaners.

Christopher Null

The Best Coffee Mug Warmers Are Smart. But They Don’t Need an App

The first rule of coffee is that it must stay hot. After weeks or even years of testing, these are the three coffee warmers that will best keep it that way.

Matthew Korfhage