PRESENTING COMPLEX DATA

VISUALLY

What time is it?

What time is it?

What time is it?

Why Present Data Visually?

It creates excitement

It creates something shareable

It makes complex data easier to understand

It increases information

retention

It pulls out key messages and

provides clarity

You control the message

• “Information overload or data glut” – David McCandless

• Language of the eye (patterns, colours) + the language of the mind (words) = speaking two languages simultaneously

• Visual Information is effortless to consume.

Communicating Research Effectively: Making Shareable Products

Presenting information in a way that tells a story

Infographics can also present data in a

variety of forms in one central place, bringing together

information into one central place for

sharing.

Four key consideration

1. Purpose and Focus2. The right information3. Correct structure4. Useful formation

Who, What, How?

• Who are you communicating with?

• What do you need people to understand?

• How is it going to be consumed?

• Static media (infographic) vs. Interactive visualisation?

Good data is a must

Paradox of data visualisation

• The more complex a visualisation, the less comprehensible it usually is.

• Balance: data + technology

+ design

Remember our clocks?

Information can be provided in a variety of ways BUT make sure it is:

• FIT FOR PURPOSE• CLEAR• EASILY UNDERSTOOD• SIMPLE

Software/ToolsCreately: this is easy to use Online Diagramming

software - purpose built for team collaboration. http://creately.com/

Hohli: this online chart maker is simple to use and allows you to create a range of colourful pie, line scatter, radar and bar charts. http://charts.hohli.com/

Tableau: a free Windows-only software for creating colourful data visualisations. http://www.tableausoftware.com/public/

Software/ToolsGap Minder (Hans Rosling): allows you to upload data and create an interactive chart. http://www.gapminder.org/upload-data/

Many Eyes: allows you to upload data in a range of very versatile formats. http://www-958.ibm.com/software/data/cognos/manyeyes/

Google Chart Tools: allows you to include constantly changing research data sourced online.

http://code.google.com/apis/chart/

Piktochart: easy to make infographics. piktochart.com

Activity

1. In groups, think of data you want to share.

2. Create a visualisation of that data (it may be a graph you have

produced before)

3. Using the principles we have learnt think about how else you

could present these linkages?

4. What other information may nuance and create patterns you

want to show?

5. Create visualisation (use pencil, pen, markers, sticky notes etc.

Go wild)