Extracting information from data is the problem that data visualization attempts to solve. Surprising insights often surface from good data visualizations. Consider, for example, the pattern of air traffic flow, or telephone calls over a significant holiday season, or search queries over time. Visualization can not only be useful, it can also be beautiful.

Artists and designers today use interactive designs and materials, interdesciplinary techniques, and unusual choices of canvas to display their work. The fields of generative algorithms and database visualization are creating a new generation of art, driven by data and experience. Viewers of such art not only experience the art but contribute to it at the same time. These "data movies" aim to make information easier to understand while being enjoyable to watch.

Joy Mountford has been involved in developing some very interesting user experiences. She shares a few of them here.