from useless numbers to meaningful stories: an intro to data visualization

From Useless Numbers to Meaningful Stories:An Intro to Data Visualization

Heather Yandowheather@thirdspacestudio.com

1. Find a partner

2. Introduce yourself and your work

3. Share one thing you want to get out of today

“The goal is to turn data into information, and information

into insight.”

Carly Fiorina

Four Types of DataFrom NTEN’s 2012 State of Nonprofit Data Report

Data Visualization Has Two Purposes

• Start with a question• Find the data that might

help you answer it• Make sense of the data

Exploration

“It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has the data.”

Arthur Conan Doyle

• Who are you communicating with?

• What do they need to know?

• How might you communicate that with them?

Explanation

From Beth Kanter’s blog: http://www.bethkanter.org/data-viz-2/

Google Chart Gallerydevelopers.google.com/chart/interactive/docs/gallery

Storytelling With Data’s Four Ruleswww.storytellingwithdata.com

1. Don’t ever lie.2. The best visual is the one that is easiest for

your audience to understand.3. Don’t use 3-D charts or pie charts.

Storytelling With Data’s Four Ruleswww.storytellingwithdata.com

1. Don’t ever lie.2. The best visual is the one that is easiest for

your audience to understand.3. Don’t use 3-D charts or pie charts.4. Reduce clutter.

Heather’s bonus rule: Make your point clear!

Question: How has the community weathered tough economic times?

Data Makeover from Storytelling with Data

Data Makeover from Storytelling with Data

Simple Data Dashboards

From http://www.blueavocado.org/content/nonprofit-dashboard-and-signal-light-boards

More Complex Data Dashboards

Infographics

Accessible Graphic Designhttp://webaim.org/resources/designers/#infographic http://rgd-accessibledesign.com/resources/

Foundations and Data Visualization

http://trianglecf.org/2015annualreport/

http://files.www.nccommunityfoundation.org/new-newsworthy/annual-report-coming-soon-to-a-mailbox-near-you/NCCF_AR-2015.pdf

http://caseygrants.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2013-Impact-Assessment-Report.pdf

https://www.mcknight.org/about-us/2014-year-at-a-glance

http://knightfoundation.org/publications/first-amendment-future-2014-survey

http://www.youthtruthsurvey.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/YouthTruth-Learning-From-Student-Voice-College-and-Career-Readiness-2016.pdf

Infogr.am

Pictochart

Easel.ly

Additional Resources• Storytelling with Data: storytellingwithdata.com • Ann K. Emery’s Chart Choosing Tool: annkemery.com/essentials• Beth Kanter’s Data Viz Tools and Tips: www.bethkanter.org/data-viz• DailyTekk’s 100 Tools and Resources:

hdailytekk.com/2012/02/27/over-100-incredible-infographic-tools-and-resources

• Tableau’s Guidebook: get.tableau.com/asset/10-tips-to-create-useful-beautiful-visualizations.html

• Producing Quality Graphics by Triangle AMA: www.triangleama.org/producing-quality-infographics

All found at thirdspacestudio.com/dataviz

Thank you!

Heather Yandow919.780.4117

heather@thirdspacestudio.comwww.thirdspacestudio.com