Bella consults

Rolf had a great idea: A map is easy to understand, because rivers are blue and forest is green. It took a while before everyone acknowledged that.

Maps are understood, if they adhere to the common notation

In business reporting one day values, currencies, periods and variances are graphed this way and that way the other day. Rolf insists that months are less wide than quarters and quarters are less wide than years.

If such a notation is used consistently, graphical elements not only illustrate proportions but reveal additional content at a glance. This is a milestone in advancing communication between controllers and managers.

Speaking of color: For the Chinese red is a sign of good luck, while in the West it is a sign of danger. But that’s a different story.

Labradores like me like to swim. Can be analytically refreshing, too. On that small islet I met two french school girls. They discussed Saturn and the Earth. How large and how small. One of them hinted to a circular pattern on the floor of the islet. “The large circle, that is Saturn”, she started, “the small one is the Earth, how tiny in comparison.” Very clever those two girls. Much more than many information designers.

Back at the beach I drew that for him in the sand. Than he got it, too.