Whether you’re working on a presentation, a business pitch or teaching materials, nothing tells a complex story faster than an infographic. The process of data visualisation is transforming the way we communicate, enabling people and organisations to turn dry data into stunning visual images.
At Guardian Masterclasses, our data visualisation workshops and corporate training are among the most popular classes in our programme. In this interview we catch up with one of our students, Daryl Cygler, who attended a Masterclass with data visualisation experts Tobias Stuart and Adam Frost.
The class gave Daryl advice and inspiration that he applied to an ambitious animated infographic he was working on for the fuel industry. Here, we ask him a few questions about data visualisation and the project he completed after the Masterclass.
What was the key thing you learned during our data visualisation course?
Data underpins the story and gives it credibility, while visualisation delivers the message and is the difference between a story that could be forgotten, and a story that is remembered and shared.
Tell us a bit about the infographic you created after the Masterclass
I commissioned and project managed an animated infographic for FES Tanks in Australia. While they are a specialised B2B business within the fuel industry, they wanted to do something that educated the broader public on the process of oil refining and the potential risks to the country’s fuel security.
Different elements of the story had been created separately by the client, so for me, the challenge was to bring all the information together into a compelling visual story. The infographic aims to educate the public on the process of oil refining, as well as the fact that Australia is a resource-rich but infrastructure-poor nation. You can view the infographic here.
Why did you choose to make it an animated infographic, rather than a static image?
The project could easily have ended up as a static infographic, but given the huge amount of static information out there and advances in web protocols, I felt it needed more. We kept some information static and animated certain areas within the piece, which added variety to the infographic and hopefully made it more visually appealing.
What advice would you give to people working on data visualisation projects of their own?
Firstly, I’d advise you to work hard to identify your skills and shortcomings. Where you are lacking in a certain area, perhaps look to outsource in order to bring the level of expertise you need into your project. Work with talented people, together the team will bring out the best in everyone involved.
Secondly, I’d strongly recommend that you seek out people who have similar interests to you. Talk to them, if possible, or explore opportunities that will help you to improve your understanding of the processes behind a project you admired.
I’ve always been impressed by the visual and interactive storytelling features that the Guardian runs on its website. I attended the Masterclass in the hope that I could increase my understanding of their approach and processes, and create an infographic that would stand out for my clients.
Guardian Masterclasses is a unique programme of learning embedded within one of the world’s most forward-thinking organisations. Explore our range of data visualisation courses here and our corporate training here.
You can view the full range of Masterclasses on our calendar, covering everything from creative writing to culture, digital media, journalism and more.
