Data Viz Today

I recently went on a journey to improve my design skills, and looking back, I learned a lot about how to build a skill and one big lesson about being a creator... Show notes: https://dataviztoday.com/shownotes/57

Chart legends are so key (ha!) to make your chart understandable, but you need to give it some thought and care. The goals of a good legend: informative and concise It shouldn't be a puzzle. So how can we enhance the default legend to be more informative and concise without becoming a puzzle? Let's jump into 3 ways to enhance your legend! Show notes

What are the invisible tools (i.e. processes or methods) that I use to help me create visualization more efficiently? I pinpointed 3 roadblocks that I encounter frequently, and in this episode, I share the invisible tools that I use to catapult over them and keep moving. Let's go!

Are you interested in freelancing or consulting in data visualization? Being your own boss as a full-time freelancer has its own set of unique challenges, and of course, many benefits! But from the outside looking in, it's hard to know where to even start... How do you find clients? How do you know what to offer? How do you reach out and pitch to potential clients? How do you communicate the value that you bring and know what to charge? How do you make sure you end up getting paid?! There's so much! But don't worry, Dr. Stephanie Evergreen joins me today, and I asked her all the questions. Let's go!

In this episode, Shirley Wu shares the specific things that she looks for in potential collaborators, the steps she took to execute her innovative People of the Pandemic game, and how she overcame her moments of self-doubt under the mounting complexity of creating a game from scratch… Show notes

You feel that mounting frustration in your body and you're about to lose your patience... what could have avoided this?! In this episode, I talk about 3 common sources of frustration and what you can do to sidestep them. Let's go! Show notes

I've noticed that many of the really engaging graphics have something in common: really thoughtful annotations. Usually, we think of annotations as a way to communicate context (like the title, subtitle, data labels) or point out outliers or specific events. But what if we thought of annotations as a tool beyond just context. What if we could use annotations to keep the reader more engaged? In this episode, we'll learn about a recent project by Alyssa Fowers, where she visualized data about protests around the U.S. and the specific things she did to create annotations that made her project more engaging. Let's go! Show notes

I started this show almost two years ago, and I've been asking everyone that I interview: what's your advice to data viz designers just starting out. Today, I gathered all their advice and wrapped up nicely into this one episode. Let's go! Show Notes

Happy new year! It's time for goal-setting, right? One small thing you can do throughout the year that will make you a better information designer (and not drive you crazy) is focus on building your data viz toolbox. I've been filling my toolbox over these past 50 episodes, and while I'll never be done filling it, the more I fill it, the easier my job is. In this episode, I'll share with you the top 9 episodes that helped give me a structure for filling my toolbox. Here's to 2020! Show notes

Why do we care about finding the underlying emotion in our project? Because it can help guide us toward visualizing the data in a more meaningful way for our audience. It helps you hone in on their point of view and what they really want. In this bonus episode, I show a quick technique that I learned recently that helps me get to the underlying emotions quickly. Join my newsletter! (you'll get my guided brainstorming template in the welcome email, plus my top tips after each episode) Original data viz about DVS survey results Contagious by Jonah Berger Grafiti.io

Have you ever been asked the explain the value of visualizing data? I always jump to "it reveals insights you couldn't see before!" But while I was at the Data2Dome conference last month, I had a light-bulb moment. Revealing insights is just part of the puzzle… In this episode, I share stories of how the planetarium community is using data to engage scientists and the general public in really innovative ways, and then I pull all the pieces together to see our value in a whole new light. Show notes Data2Dome Tips to your inbox! Join my newsletter :)

It's no secret that creating two charts to show different views on a data set can be very powerful. But can connecting them somehow make it even more impactful? In this episode, we learn how Mohamad Waked used two charts with a captivating connective tissue to shine a light on a very important issue happening in the world right now. Show notes: www.dataviztoday.com/shownotes/48

It's no secret that some charts lie. You might be thinking that only a subset of people who maliciously create a chart to serve their interests are guilty of this, but the truth is, there are many ways in which a chart can lie. You can make a mistake in your design, or use data that's insufficient, or make conclusions that aren't accurate. I'm guilty of this, and guess what… so is Alberto Cairo! He wrote a whole book on How Charts Lie based on his experience creating and reading charts. In this episode, I finally got to ask Alberto's opinion on some burning questions that I have, like how he personally reads charts to assess their quality, how he'd structure a graphics team today to make sure they create quality graphics, and where he thinks we'll be fighting misinformation in the coming years. Most importantly, he explains why we shouldn't throw up our hands and give up on charts even when some mislead us. Show Notes Alberto's book How Charts Lie Follow Alberto on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter Follow Katherine Mellow on Twitter

Having a data viz mentor is a great resource! BUT... One person doesn't need to be everything to you. Maybe building a Board of Directors could be more helpful. I've built a virtual one that has seats for those who inspire me with - Creativity - Technical Skills - Communication - Introspectiveness - Fellow Data Viz Nerdery In this episode, I talk about who I've chosen for my DVBOD ;) and how I plan to keep in touch with what they're doing virtually. My calendly page :) My newsletter

Are you struggling with putting together an effective portfolio? I find it hard to know if I'm using my time efficiently. What do I need to include? When is it enough?!? Luckily, Dillon Winspear is here to help. He's reviewed hundreds of portfolios as a Senior UX Lead at Domo, and I asked for his top tips for building a portfolio. Listen in and learn how to impress your hiring manager even if you only have 10 minutes to spare! Show notes Subscribe to Dillon's podcast Designed Today Follow Dillon Winspear on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

***BONUS EPISODE! WOOHOO!*** I've been using a new topic sentence formula to help me gain clarity around my data visualizations, and I wanted to share it with you! I hope it's helpful. Let me know if you use something like this too. :)

Visualization isn't always about revealing the patterns in our data. Sometimes it can be used to bring people together. This featured viz is a project by Amy Cesal and her now-husband Zander Furnas that they created for their wedding to connect their guests to them and each other. In this episode, we'll hear how this project was created, what they'd do differently in retrospect, and what specific questions you need to ask yourself before you start designing data viz to connect people. Show Notes Amy and Zander's Medium article all about the project Follow Amy Cesal and Zander Furnas on Twitter Follow VizTip Correspondent Katherine Mello on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

Data Literacy is on everyone's mind right now, but it always seemed like a nebulous topic to me. What is it exactly? How can you tell how literate you are? More importantly, how do you improve?! In this episode, we'll learn why you need to assess yourself, no matter how literate you are, and how to identify the next step you need to take to improve on your weak spots today. Show Notes 17 Key Traits of Data Literacy PDF Data Literacy Assessment Dashboard Follow Ben Jones on Twitter Follow VizTip Correspondent Katherine Mello on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

Every day, events are happening and people are moving through time making decisions. How do we visualize that? How do we visualize that for hundreds of people in a way that still makes sense? Even more challenging, how do we humanize that visualization? In this episode, we'll learn how Sahil Chinoy and Jessia Ma from the New York Times solved this problem by combing hundreds of paths into a narrative chart. Show Notes Follow Sahil and Jessia on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

Can we combine explanatory and exploratory data viz? That's just what Duncan Clark and his team over at Flourish are trying to accomplish by giving everyone the ability to create a "Talkie." In this episode, find out what it is and how to create an effective one. Bonus: Duncan shares the one thing that would impress him in a data viz portfolio! Show Notes Follow Duncan and Flourish on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

Are you terrified of color? Me too! :) Sometimes there are just too many choices. So I'm going on a color diet! What's a color diet? Well, for me, it means to be more conscious about how I use color in my visualizations to make sure that I'm using color to solve a problem. In this episode, we'll talk about how a color diet can improve your work, plus a few tips on how to get the most out of the few colors that you do use. Show Notes Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter Sign up for my weekly newsletter!

How can you add more information to your flow charts? Incorporate small multiples! In this episode, we learn about Chris DeMartini's data visualization that brings together small multiples and a flow chart (an NBA bracket) to add context to the flow. Find out how he created it, and how this technique can be applied elsewhere! Show Notes Chris DeMartini's blog posts Follow Chris on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

I've been on a mission to improve my design abilities, and there are three design tweaks that I've found to be really effective in making my visualizations look more professional. In this episode, I share these three tips that pack a punch! Show notes Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter Join my weekly newsletter Resources page Courses

Can you write your way to data viz success? It might be hard to see how writing could improve your visualizations but in this episode, I'll lay out 3 compelling reasons WHY you need to start writing today. Plus, I'll share easy 3 steps to get you started. This episode is inspired by the creative passion project Market Cafe Magazine that's created and independently published by Tiziana Alocci and Piero Zagami. Listen to what it takes to self-publish a data viz magazine! Show Notes Market Cafe Magazine Website Sign up for my weekly newsletter! :) Follow Market Cafe Mag on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

What a year… I was honored to join Enrico Bertini and Moritz Stefaner on their Data Stories podcast along with Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic and Jon Schwabish to discuss our highlights from the year and what we hope to see in 2019. This is a re-broadcast of that amazing episode. I also added an intro with some thoughts on my 2019 data viz goals and ideas on how you can tackle your own. I'd love to know what yours are! Here's to another year filled with data viz projects, collaborations & learning… Feel free to download the PDF that I used for my 2019 Data Viz Goalsetting in the show notes below. Show Notes Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter!

I recently caught wind of a forthcoming data viz book all about the craft of being a data storyteller called Info We Trust by RJ Andrews, and I wanted to know all about it! So I hopped on the phone with RJ and got the scoop on how he cleverly structures his days to be the most creative data storyteller and author that he can be, plus he shared his essential components to being consistently creative, even when faced with a limited toolset or under a deadline. I hope you enjoy our chat, and you can pre-order his book (due out January 2019) here! Show Notes RJ's Website Follow RJ on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

Have you ever pushed the boundaries of visualization? Did you receive any push-back? Do you want to experiment more with new chart types, but you're not sure where to start or maybe you're worried about people's reactions? In this episode, we'll hear how Richie Lionell created his thought-provoking data viz, how he handled criticism gracefully, and how you can get started creating something new in spite of potential negative feedback. Show Notes Senator Voting Patterns viz Sign up for my weekly newsletter! :) Follow Richie Lionell on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

What should you do when you plot your data points and realize they're all on top of each other?? I recently learned that this is called "overplotting" and in this episode, I'll offer 3 techniques to help you handle this problem so you can get back to analyzing & visualizing! Show Notes Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter Check out my Adobe Illustrator for Data Viz course!

When's the last time you saw a box plot? How about the last time you created one?! It's been a long time for me, but this week's featured data visualization by Eric William Lin has convinced me to reconsider using this often clinical chart type as a beautiful and powerful way to tell a story. In this episode, we'll hear how Eric built his Kantar IIB Shortlisted viz, plus a few suggestions for how and when YOU could try a box plot! Show Notes Check out my Adobe Illustrator course! Eric's Viz VOTE for Eric's viz --> Kantar's IIB Awards! Follow Eric on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

How can you consistently generate interesting visual story ideas from your data set? I've been on a quest to find a process for this, and I recently found guidance in a book for authors who are trying to get their non-fiction short stories published by editors. I used what I learned to create a worksheet that brings me from a basic stat to eight story ideas! In this episode, you'll learn about the reasoning behind it and hear it in action! Show Notes ^Download the worksheet in the show notes! :) NEW COURSE: Design Your First Visualization in Adobe Illustrator in Under 30 Minutes Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

How can you add interaction to make your story more impactful and memorable? In this episode, host Alli Torban explores specific interaction techniques that you can try in your visualizations to more effectively inform your reader. Featured data visualization project by Ludovic Tavernier perfectly shows how handing over the power to your reader can create an engaging experience. Check out my Adobe Illustrator course! Show Notes Ludovic's Viz Follow Ludovic on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

When is it beneficial to visualize your data in 3D? We know that people love the "cool" factor of 3D, but I think most people know to avoid it now. But in which cases could it be useful in understanding your data? In this episode, host Alli Torban explores the pros and cons of 3D viz. Featured data visualization project by Ryan Baumann shows a beautiful way to make custom 3D visualizations of spatial athletic data. Show Notes Ryan's Athlete Data Viz Site Follow Ryan Baumann on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter Sign up for the Data Viz Today Newsletter!

Do you ever have a client that's not sure what they need, and you also feel at a loss on how to visualize their goal in the most useful way? In this episode, I talk about how I'm bringing back my old Help Desk skills to break through that wall (or vizzer's block ;D) and dig up useful dashboard ideas. Show Notes Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

How can you find your unique data viz style? I've started my quest to find mine, which I hope will help me find my voice and create work that's more representative of my point of view. I know it's not something that happens overnight, but what can I do to get started? Featured data visualization project by Federica Fragapane provides plenty of inspiration for how to get on the right path. Show Notes Federica's Portfolio Follow Federica on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

Is it ever beneficial to stray from the usual chart types and create your own original, novel data visualization? i.e. A viz where you decide what each free-form shape, line, and color represents. In this episode, host Alli Torban explores how this technique can lead to a deeper connection to your data. Featured data visualization by Sonja Kuijpers perfectly illustrates how creating an original visualization can turn overwhelm into clarity. Show Notes Sonja's Website Follow Sonja on Twitter! Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter!

I loved reading Edward Tufte's "The Visual Display of Quantitative Information" for the first time as part of the Data Vis Book Club! He's known as a pioneer in the data viz field but has also received criticism for his "my way or the highway" approach. I highly recommend reading his book, not necessarily as a data viz rulebook, but as a valuable perspective to consider. In this episode, I talk about the 3 things that I'll try to do better in my data visualizations now that I've read Tufte's book. What about you? Show Notes Edward Tufte's Book Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

Being able to see the difference between well-designed and poorly-designed data viz is half the battle! But when your work always looks amateurish to you, it can be really frustrating. In this episode, host Alli Torban identifies specific ways that you can close the gap between your good taste and your developing skills. Featured data visualization by Jane Pong perfectly illustrates how dense data can still be designed in a clean and engaging way, and I take notes from her to remake my viz from a past episode! Show Notes Jane's Website Follow Jane on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

How can you create a data viz that feels inviting to your reader? Host Alli Torban explores the specific design elements that can offer your reader an enjoyable experience. Featured data visualization by Sarah Bartlett perfectly demonstrates how investing in an inviting design can lead to a pleasant, informative, and memorable experience. Show Notes Sarah's Website Sarah on Twitter Data Viz Today on Twitter

Have you ever heard these words? "We don't have a budget for this work, but we can offer you exposure!" Whether you're more in the graphic design camp or the data journalism camp, you'll probably run up against this at some point in your freelancing journey. In this episode, I offer 3 questions to ask yourself before agreeing to do data viz work for free so that you can protect your time and engage in projects that are truly a win-win. Show Notes Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Instagram

How can visualizing streaks in your data help you find patterns and gain perspective? Host Alli Torban dives into specific ways you can see your data in a new way by highlighting the period of time that something is happening - a streak. Featured data visualization by Frank Elavsky perfectly demonstrates how streaks are not only beautiful but can also reveal patterns and new questions. Show Notes Article with Viz Frank on Twitter Data Viz Today on Twitter

How has my data viz design process changed over the past 5 months? Well, it was pretty non-existent to start with, but after interviewing 20 top data viz designers, I've learned a lot and now have a much more defined design process. In this episode, I share my current 7-step process and would love to hear what yours is like so we can learn from each other! Show Notes Data Viz Today Twitter Data Viz Today Instagram

How can segmenting your line chart into intervals help you gain insights into your data? Host Alli Torban dives into specific ways you can visually break up your line chart into intervals as a way to quickly see your data from a different perspective. Example questions you could answer: Which marketing campaign had the greatest effect on sales? Does varying the basketball shot clock length change how many points are scored? Featured data visualization by Ben Jones perfectly models how this technique can visually communicate a relationship between two metrics. Show Notes Ben's Website Ben's Twitter Data Viz Today Twitter

What are isochrone maps and how can you use them for advanced analysis or data art? Host Alli Torban dives into specific ways you can create and use isochrones for personal or work challenges. Featured data visualization project by Topi Tjukanov perfectly models how isochrones can bring out interesting insights. Show Notes Topi's Website Topi's Twitter Data Viz Today Twitter

How can you see your data viz with fresh eyes? Host Alli Torban dives into specific ways you can view your work from a new perspective when you're short on time! Show Notes Download the Printable Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

How can you start your own data viz passion project that hones your skills and opens the door to new opportunities? Host Alli Torban dives into specific ways you can find and execute a passion project that brings you joy and growth. Featured data visualization project by Amy Cesal perfectly models how a passion project can be fun, bring new opportunities, and grow your skills! Show Notes Amy's Website Amy's Twitter Data Viz Today's Twitter

How can you take your scatter plot to the next level? Host Alli Torban dives into 3 ways you can layer onto a scatter plot to enhance your reader's understanding of the data. Show Notes Maarten's Website Maarten's Twitter Data Viz Today's Twitter

How can visualizations help people make decisions and set goals? Use a simulation/what-if analysis and visualize the results! Host Alli Torban dives into why simulations are so powerful in persuading people and how to know if your client could benefit from a what-if visualization! Show notes Gabrielle's Website Gabrielle's Twitter Data Viz Today Twitter

What can we learn from the top-notch Data Team at the Economist? Host Alli Torban dives into the 3 things that she learned from their team as they put together their predictive model for the U.S. midterm elections. (Hint: the complexities of predictive model building, visualizing uncertainty, and annotations!) Shownotes The Economist's Midterm Election Predictive Model Follow The Economist's Data Team on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

How can you use visual metaphor to evoke emotion? Host Alli Torban dives into specific ways to find a visual metaphor that's right for your data. Featured data viz by Valentina D'Efilippo models how to use visual metaphor to create a beautiful, meaningful, and memorable data viz. Shownotes Valentina's Website Follow Valentina on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter

How can you enhance your portfolio with maps? Host Alli Torban dives into specific ways to get started making your own maps! Featured data viz by Hyemi Song models how to use a beautifully styled map to show emerging spatial patterns. Course: "Make Your First Custom Map in Under 30 Minutes" Show Notes Hyemi's Website Follow Hyemi on Twitter Follow Data Viz Today on Twitter