1) The document discusses data visualization and provides tips for effective data visualization design. It introduces different types of charts like column charts, pie charts, bubble charts and their pros and cons.
2) Design tips include representing data accurately, using simple styles, employing color cautiously, choosing clear fonts, and using annotations to tell a story.
3) Online visualization tools like Infogram are also presented. The resource aims to demonstrate the value of data visualization for research communication and uptake.
2. In this resource
• Introduce data visualisation and demonstrate its value for research
uptake and communications
• Compare different types of chart
• Share design tips for a visualisation
• Explore online data visualisation tools
3. • The presentation of data or information in a graphical format
• A way of visually communicating information – often quantitative in
nature – in an accurate, compelling way
What is data visualisation?
7. The value of data visualisations
• Reveal patterns, relationships or stories in data
• Tell stories in a compelling and immediate way which can be more
memorable than words or tables
Life
expectancy
at birth
19
80
19
82
19
84
19
86
19
88
19
90
19
92
19
94
19
96
19
98
20
00
20
02
20
04
20
06
20
08
20
10
20
12
Botswana 61 62 63 63 64 63 62 59 56 53 51 49 47 47 46 47 47
India 55 56 57 57 58 59 59 60 61 61 62 63 64 64 65 66 66
South
Africa 57 58 59 60 61 62 62 62 61 58 56 54 52 52 53 55 56
Tanzania 51 51 51 51 51 50 50 49 49 49 50 51 53 55 57 59 61
Zimbabwe 59 60 61 61 61 59 57 53 50 46 44 43 43 45 49 54 58
8. The value of data visualisations
• Visualisations can be easily shared with others
9. The value of data visualisations
• Effective visualisations can alter perceptions, influence people and
bring about change
10.
11.
12.
13. Column/bar charts
Pros
• Clear and easy to
read
• Show even small
differences in
values
Cons
• Can be dull
• People rarely stop
and look
Source: The Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/jun/20/one-in-three-women-suffers-violence
14.
15. Pie charts
Pros
• Pie charts are
good for showing
percentages.
Cons
• Don’t represent
values accurately,
which makes it
hard to compare
values.
17. Stacked bars
Pros
• Good alternative
to pie charts when
you have values
adding up to 100%
Cons
• Can be hard to
compare values in
the middle.
• Lose smaller
values
20. Design tips
• Represent the data accurately
• Style the chart simply
• Use colour with caution
• Choose a clear font
• Use annotations to tell a story
29. Style the chart simply
Label as directly as possible
Series 1
Series 2
Series 3
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
1990 1995 2000 2005
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
1990 1995 2000 2005
Series 1 Series 2 Series 3
30. Use colour with caution
monochromatic
complementary
Analogous
(similar)
31. Use colour with caution
0
5
10
15
20
Monochromatic
colours for a data
map
Complementary
colours to
highlight
Similar colours
to distinguish
data
Bright colours
to emphasise
the important
line
32. Use colour with caution
Have consideration for the meaning of colours
What is wrong with this picture?
34. Choose a clear font
For screen
• Calibri
• Helvetica
• Franklin Gothic
• Arial
For print
• Georgia
• Garamond
• Baskerville
• Times New Roman
35. 4. Choose a clear font
Is this easy to read?
Is this easy to read?
Is this easy to read?
Is this easy to read?
IS THIS EASY TO READ?
Is this easy to read?
36. Use annotations to tell a story
Highlight
important
features
Provide additional
detail, context
38. Organise your information
Find data
Clean data
• Research, WHO data, World Bank data
• In excel, check data is accurate, re-format
Remove
commas,
irrelevant data
Decrease
decimals
Switch rows to
columns (Copy --
Paste Special --
Transpose
Sort data • Into separate spreadsheets for each graphic
39.
40. Further resources for data visualisation
• STRIVE/RESYST webinar on data visualisation
• Infogram
• Tableau public
• The noun project
• Knowledge is beautiful – book and website by David McCandless
• The visual display of qualitative information book