Tufte’s theory of Micro-Macrocosm entails the depiction of large quantities of data at high densities. Displaying information in this fashion gives viewers freedom over consuming this information. As stated by Tufte high-density designs allow viewers to “narrate, to recast and personalize data for their own uses” – E. Tufte, Envisioning Information (1990), in some cases only small amounts of the information displayed may be useful to the reader and allowing the reader to easily pick out that information is what makes Micro-Macrocosm useful. As far as complexity goes Tufte also explains how factors such as that can be seen as difficulty of reading not quantity of detail and therefore a different subject matter, ” out confusing clutter? Information overload? Doesn’t data have to be “boiled down” and “simplified”? These common questions miss the point, for the quantity of detail is an issue completely separate from the difficulty of reading. Clutter and confusion are failures of design, not attributes of information.”
This article displays a mural located in the Tokyo Subway Station. The mural contains various characters from a range of different manga/anime. The sure quantity of characters displayed gives on-goers something to look at and most likely they will recognise at least a few of the characters. With so many characters not many would be expected to know them all, therefore by displaying a mass amount of characters, which can be identified as Micro-macrocosm, the viewer is able to easily sift through the information(characters) to find one they know. Giving viewers control over the information highlights one of the mentioned purposes of Micro-Macrocosm by Tufte “High-density designs also allow viewers to select, to narrate, to recast and personalize data for their own uses. Thus control of information is
given over to viewers, not to editors, designers, or decorators.”
References:
Tufte, E.R., 1990, Envisioning Information p. 81. Cheshire: Graphics Press. Accessed [04/11/21].
SoraNews24, 2019. Massive manga mural appears in Tokyo station with nearly 100 feet of anime’s biggest stars【Pics】[Online] (Updated May 9, 2019) Available at: https://soranews24.com/2019/05/09/massive-manga-mural-appears-in-tokyo-station-with-nearly-100-feet-of-animes-biggest-stars%E3%80%90pics%E3%80%91/. Accessed [04/11/21]