GPL is a MAJOR breakthrough for visualizing data.  It happens to be in SPSS 14.0, but it is a breakthrough in general, not only for SPSS users.  It is a completely different philosophy.  I will have more posts on this, but check out this links.

For some neat examples of cool charts many of which one could imitate in GPL see http://www.math.yorku.ca/SCS/Gallery/

For more information on the person who created the concept: http://www.spss.com/research/wilkinson/  Note the Grammar of Graphics. Follow that link.

GPL doesn't have anything to do with Tufte per se, but many folks I have had in class see a synergy.  There is no direct link between the two authors. I'll let you decide.  http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/