I discovered these two images on the web on 7 Feb (thanks, Jacob & bOING bOING). They are excellent examples of information visualization, which is the art and craft of presenting information in a visual format.
The photo above (credit: Jonno d’Addario) shows the white pages (residential listings) for New Orleans, LA for 2006 (left) and 2007 (right). A quick glance shows the newer book is about a half-inch smaller—that’s a lot fewer people.
This diagram follows in the footsteps of Harry C. Beck, whose diagram of the London Underground similarly favors usability over geographic accuracy. I have a lovely book about the diagram, Mr. Beck’s Underground Map which anyone interested may borrow.
Learn more about this image from its creator, Chris Yates.