Visualizing Data. Telling a story with information

Transcription

1 Visualizing Data Telling a story with information

2 There were 5 Exabytes of information created between the dawn of civilization through 2003, but that much information is now created every two days. (Kind of. This is a bit exaggerated.) Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman of Google Slide No. 2

3 Visual Hierarchy Hierarchy is the order in which compositional elements are viewed. A clear hierarchy makes important things stand out and other things recede. Slide No. 3

4 Ways to control hierarchy Size Space Value thin vs. thick Typographic Weight Slide No. 4

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8 Data Connections Data provides insights revealed by patterns or connections. Think about telling a story with the information at hand. Slide No. 8

9 Visual Storytelling Visual narratives make data easier to understand. Instead of merely presenting information, think about how quickly and directly connect the reader with your content (or story). Slide No. 9

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12 Types of Data and Charts When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Maslow s Hammer Slide No. 12

13 Honesty in Data Reporting Scale and visualization can affect perception. As a consumer, would you rather purchase at a store where prices are consistent or items from a store where the prices fluctuate? Slide No. 13

14 Graphic Representations of Quantity Quantity can be represented in many ways. Not all methods give an accurate picture of specific amounts. Slide No. 14

15 Area Comparison Area can convey magnitude but not exact numerical comparisons. We can say that: 2 is larger than 1 B is greater than A A B 1 2 Slide No. 15

16 Pie Charts Pie charts are good at providing relative quantities to a whole as long as there are not many partitions. We can say that: 2 is larger than 1 in area A is 1/2 of 1 B is 1/2 of 2 A B 1 2 Slide No. 16

17 Groups of Geometric Units This format provides measurable comparisons between units and groups. Combine units into meaningful amounts to facilitate counting. We can say that: 2 is twice as large as 1 A is 3/5 of 1 B is 6/10 of 2 A is 1/2 of B A 1 2 B Slide No. 17

18 Scale of Signs Don t use icon area to show quantitative data. Assign a numeric unit and semantic meaning satisfied customers satisfied customers dissatisfied customers dissatisfied customers Slide No. 18

19 Accuracy Pie Charts should add up to 100%. 20% 50% 40% Slide No. 19

20 Color Simultaneous color can affect our perception of size. Remember to consider cultural color associations. Slide No. 20

21 Best Practices 1 Use one color to represent each category. 2 Order data sets using logical hierarchy. 3 Use callouts to highlight important or interesting information. 4 Visualize data in a way that is easy for readers to compare values. 5 Use icons to enhance comprehension and reduce unnecessary labeling. Slide No. 21

22 Avoid these things 6 Don t use hight contrast color combinations such as red/green or blue/yellow 7 Don t use 3D charts. They can skew perception of the visualization. 8 Don t add chartjunk, unnecessary illustrations or ornamentations. 9 Don t use more than six colors in a single layout. 10 Don t use distracting fonts or elements (such as bold, italic, or underlined text). Slide No. 22

23 Visualizing complex data Correlations and hierarchical systems may require combined charts or new methods of visualizing data. A hierarchical system is an ordered set where elements and/or subsets are organized in a given relationship to one another, both among themselves and within the whole. Treemaps are a tool for visualizing hierarchies. Slide No. 23

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