Rows or columns?

When designing a table there is always the question: which dimension to put in rows, and which in columns. Personally, I do what looks best, without applying any specific rules.

• If one dimension has labels that are very long, I prefer to put them in rows
• If one dimension has lots of data points, I tend to put them in rows (16:9 screens give more flexibility for wide designs though)
• Years usually go in columns
• Big options (1, 2, or 3) usually go in columns
• Ranking different values usually is better vertically, it is easier to compare a column of numbers than have your eyes move across a row of numbers.

Art: Lyubov Popova, Air, Man, Space, 1912

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