Zebra stripes for painting grids & lists is a violation of the natural principle.

1. Zebra stripes for lists & grids??

2. To stripe or not to stripe? VS.

3. Uniformity of data nature The data in the grid (or list) is uniform by its (data) nature. There is no difference between row 7 and row 22. The representation of the same information must be the same… Because otherwise there is a question: – if all rows are equivalent – why to represent them in different ways?!

4. Non-uniformity of data view The data representation in the grid (or list) is not uniform by visual design. There is difference between row 7 and row 22. The representation of the same information is not the same… And there is a question again: – if all rows are equivalent – why to represent them in different ways?!

5. Conclusion. Zebra is a problem! Fundamental nature & universe principle screwed up. It is like painting 50% of people clothes to one color and another 50% of people clothes to another color. Visualization contradicts with nature.

6. Solution. Don’t paint! Simply, don’t paint presumably. Data shows itself. It is like not painting people clothes at all  , but let them wear what they like. Everybody shows her/him-self. No force, everybody shows up as they are.

9. What other studies say? link to E.Tufte board, with multiple ruminations and opinions. There are good arguments that zebra is for referees  with reference to ‘Envisioning Information’ book ( link to Amazon) link to zebras 

10. What to do with holes in the grid?

11. What to do with holes in the grid? Rework IxD. Because if grid has much white space then grid is a wrong way of information delivery in that case.

12. The End. Rethink the issue of mismatch between data nature and its view…and stop zebra’ing by selecting right info delivery patterns! May be not a grid.

13. Questions? Vasyl Mylko [email_address]