Data trails: “The power of trees” (1855)

This beauty of a diagram is considered to be the first organisational chart ever. It was drawn in 1855 and shows the structure of the New York and Erie Railroad Company, a large business of 4,715 employees which operated five railway lines with some 500 miles of tracks at the time. The company is envisioned as a magnificent tree, with its roots forming the center of power in the person of the president and the surrounding board of directors.

Data trails: “81 years of graphical excellence” (1874)

81 years of budget data and various categories in three diagrams – the United States Fiscal Chart from the 1870 US census atlas is a real blockbuster in the history of data visualisation. The atlas as a whole is full of interesting graphics and has a widespread reputation as an early gem of data visualisation.

Inspiration: Interactive network graph from MoMA

The Museum of Modern Art in New York City is a fascinating brand name in the museum world. Since it was founded in 1929, the institution’s goal was not only to show what’s happening in contemporary art, but also to shape