Good data visualisation instantly makes sense of complex trends, concisely sharing information to a broad audience. This one-day course will show you how to spot visual stories in data and develop them into engaging, attractive infographics that pack a punch.
Nick Evershed, Guardian Australia’s data journalist, will lead the day looking at how to mine datasets for trends, how to spot and assemble stories, and how to access free tools to show your data. Nick will then lead a panel session with Jack & Andrea from leading data visualisation company Small Multiples on best practice in data visualisation.
Anthony Baxter, from Google’s Crisis Response Team, will finish the day taking you through the distribution of critical information and how he worked to make it more accessible during natural disasters and humanitarian crises. He will cover visualising data on maps - showing some of the simpler ways to quickly produce a map with data, gradually moving through to more sophisticated approaches. He’ll clearly outline best practices for producing the most useful and visually striking map visualisations.
This course is for you if...
- You want to learn how to present complex information in a digestible format
- You’re a journalist hoping to pitch or commission data-driven features
- You’re a marketing and communications professional who wants to present information attractively and with impact
- You’re a designer who wishes to learn more about information graphics
- You’re a developer who is interested in creating more usable and elegant front-end solutions
PLEASE NOTE: Please bring laptop, iPad or tablet to use in class. A course preparation document will be provided ahead of class.
Course description
This Masterclass will look at how raw data can be turned into striking visual stories, including both flat graphics and interactive graphics.
Topics covered on the day include:
- The importance of good visual storytelling
- Designing and presenting graphs and charts to maximise their impact and memorability
- How to find and analyse data, and match it to the needs of your audience
- The evolution of data visualisation and examples of best practice
- The use of Google mapping tools to tell your story
(Although we do discuss the different visualisation software options available, this is not a software training course)
No experience of graphic design is necessary, as the course provides an introduction to classic data visualisation templates. You will leave this Masterclass with the knowledge of how to use data visualisation to tell a complex story in a simple yet meaningful way.
Tutor profile
Nick Evershed is a data journalist for Guardian Australia. After a short stint as a scientist, he switched careers and is now specialising in data-based investigations and multimedia. His work includes looking at where political party donations come from, a chapter-based explainer of dredging in the Great Barrier Reef and a snapshot of pop culture with an analysis of Triple J’s annual Hot 100. He enjoys analysing everything from politics to sandwiches. @NickEvershed
The founders of Small Multiples, Andrea Lau and Jack Zhao, are both data visualisation specialists working across visual design, information architecture and interaction development to communicate stories told with data. Andrea and Jack are data visualisation fanatics; they love projects that are a medium for social change and help keep people well-informed. @smallmultiples
Anthony Baxter is a software engineer who works with Google.org’s Crisis Response Team building tools to collect and share emergency information during natural disasters, including the Christchurch earthquakes, Queensland floods, Thailand and Philippines floods, and Hurricane Sandy.
The Crisis Response team’s mission is: to deliver accurate, relevant and credible information to the public, leveraging Google’s reach and scale, for all emergency events affecting life and property as fast as possible across many Google products.
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Details
Date: Wednesday 18 February
Times: 10am-5pm
Location: Surry Hills, Sydney
Price: $499
Event capacity: 16
Dress code: There is no dress code for Masterclasses. Please wear whatever you feel comfortable in.
To contact us, click here. Terms and conditions can be found here.
Returns policy
Tickets may be refunded if you contact us at least 7 days before the course start date. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.
