Great article on Seed Magazine about the shortcomings of many of the data visualization methods we often see these days:

Some of the most confusing new visualizations are the popular network diagrams, which are intended to show connections between nodes and invite inferences about the forces that govern the connections. Numerous groups have produced maps of social networks, internet traffic, and other complicated phenomena, but the impression one gets is merely of connectivity, rather than of any of the patterns the visualization purports to convey. Few obey the principles of perception-informed design or Edward Tufte’s rules for graphical integrity, which state that graphics should make viewers think about the subject matter, not design.

As is often said, great design should be invisible. Crazy infographics may be cool, but they often don’t really make things more understandable than a more simplistic approach