Data Visualization: Best Practices

Learn how to build accurate, compelling data visualizations, as well as charts and graphs that look great and stand up to analysis.

Introduction

• Best practices of data visualization
• What you will learn
• Exercise files

1. Why Data Viz Matters

• The importance of data viz in today's market
• A quick history of data viz
• Our level of data literacy: The brain science
• Our level of data literacy: The charts that matter
• Using simple charts and graphs
• Using complex charts and graphs
• Challenge: Pop quiz
• Solution: Pop quiz

2. Identifying and Shaping Your Data

• Key questions to ask
• Question 1: Who is your audience?
• Question 2: What are your objectives?
• Question 3: What data will serve your objectives?
• Question 4: What chart or graph is best?
• Challenge: The best charts to use
• Solution: The best charts to use

3. Data Viz Mistakes to Avoid

• Being a data fiduciary
• Mistake 1: Putting form over function
• Mistake 2: Improper use of scales
• Mistake 3: Manipulating the axis
• Mistake 4: Forcing your audience to do math
• Mistake 5: Organizing data passively
• Mistake 6: Assuming percentage equals pie
• Challenge: Data viz mistakes
• Solution: Data viz mistakes

4. Designing Charts and Graphs

• Creating bar graphs in Adobe Illustrator
• Creating pie charts in Adobe Illustrator
• Creating line and area graphs in Adobe Illustrator
• How to use labels and color

Conclusion

• Thank you