A system for generating user interface elements comprises a data analysis module, an element generation module and a positioning module. The data analysis module is arranged to identify a plurality of classes in input data, wherein each class is associated with at least one characteristic value. The element generation module is arranged to generate a plurality of user interface elements each associated with a class by calculating, for each user interface element, at least one value indicative of a two-dimensional area based on the characteristic value associated with the class of the element. The positioning module is arranged to generate a position layout by determining positions for the user interface elements, wherein each position is determined independently of an axis associated with a class or a variable relating to a class.