skills/visualization-strategy-and-critique/references/tufte-munzner-cairo-synthesis.md

# Tufte, Munzner, and Cairo Synthesis

## What Problem This Solves

This reference turns theory names into a practical decision stack for the skill.

## When to Use It

Use this when the user explicitly asks for theory-grounded advice or when you need to justify a recommendation with a stronger framework.

## Key Takeaways

- Tufte is strongest for evidence density, integration of words and graphics, and critique of ornament.
- Munzner is strongest for design process: domain task, data abstraction, encoding, and algorithm.
- Cairo is strongest for balancing truthful communication with narrative clarity.

## Common Mistakes

- Treating these as interchangeable.
- Quoting theory without changing the recommendation.

## Adjacent Skills

- `../SKILL.md`
- `../../reports-pdfs-and-slide-automation/SKILL.md`

## Source Links

- [Edward Tufte books](https://www.edwardtufte.com/books/)
- [Tamara Munzner's Nested Model](https://www.cs.ubc.ca/labs/imager/tr/2009/NestedModel/)
- [The Truthful Art](https://www.albertocairo.com/books)