Preattentive Attributes Quote by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic
““Highlighting one aspect can make other things harder to see One word of warning in using preattentive attributes: when you highlight one point in your story, it can actually make other points harder to see. When you’re doing exploratory analysis, you should mostly avoid the use of preattentive attributes for this reason. When it comes to explanatory analysis, however, you should have a specific story you are communicating to your audience. Leverage preattentive attributes to help make that story visually clear.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Storytelling with Data, Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, 2015
Using visual emphasis can obscure other information; reserve it for clear, purposeful narratives rather than exploratory work.
In simple terms: Highlighting can hide other data; use it sparingly.
Key Takeaway
Apply visual emphasis only when it serves a specific story.
Themes
visual communication
data visualization
clarity
focus
design
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
instructional
advisory
When to use this quote
- presentations
- dashboard design
- report writing
- exploratory analysis
- explanatory analysis
Key Concepts
preattentive perception
cognitive load
information hierarchy
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you prioritize clarity over completeness?
- How can you test if a highlight distracts?
A Different Perspective
Over‑emphasis may mislead audience or cause important details to be missed.
