Data Visualisation: Using design principles for impact and cut-through
Clear, engaging, visual communication of complex data has been scientifically proven to enable improved and faster understanding of information. However, designing effective outputs, appropriate to the data being used and the decision needed, is an art as well as a science.
Before using any communication tool - whether PowerPoint, advanced visualisation software or video editing software - design principles and practice are needed to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.
This one-day workshop is designed to help analysts and researchers understand those design principles and learn how to apply them in practice through live examples.
Aims and objectives:
Principles rooted in art and design will be shared to help analysts and researchers to select and design their visuals. But this is not about changing analysts into artists - the workshop has a highly-practical focus on visualisation workflow, design and using alternative media to create outputs that are compelling and easy to understand.
The core objectives of the programme are to:
- Help analysts and researchers to dissect what works and understand how visuals are deciphered by the reader
- Inspire analysts and researchers to use design principles to create sketches and storyboards for their insight outputs
- Introduce and experiment with a variety of DIY tools to shortcut the hard work of creating visually-compelling outputs
- Awareness of a range of data visualisation tools and considerations for different data types
- Understanding of the range of tools and templates available to aid the visual display of insights
- Improved ability to sketch and create compelling outputs, including infographics, animation and videos
The workshop includes the following sections:
- Why this session – defining success, the purpose of visualisation and benefits of improved visualisation
- How we really decipher visual output and what this means for the insight reports we create
- Access to tried-and-tested frameworks to ensure the right visual is selected and displayed on the page
- Visualisation hints and tips drawing from best practice
- Utilising sketching to convert creative ideas onto the page
- Mastering tools and templates to execute high quality outputs
- Action planning