Abstract: An apparatus and method include: receiving a data set having two or more variables; receiving a selection of at least one of the two or more variables, an abstraction level and a visual feature; automatically generating and displaying a set of visual representations of the data set on the display; receiving a change in the selected variables, selected abstraction level, the selected visual feature, or a selection from various views; determining a visual representation recommendation based on the selected variable(s), selected abstraction level and the selected visual feature, the change in the selected variables, selected abstraction level, the selected visual feature, or the selected views; and automatically updating and displaying the set of visual representations of the data set on the display based the visual representation recommendation, and the change in the selected variables, selected abstraction level, the selected visual feature, or the selected views.