DATA
VISUALIZATION
RESOURCES
​This deck was
designed as a guide
for staff looking for
resources to learn
about data
visualization and
tools for improving
the design of their
visualizations.
Jessica Dubow
Amanda Makulec
JSI Center for Health Information,
Monitoring & Evaluation
September 2014
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
01
02
​Introduction
Pages 3-6
+ What is Data
Visualization?
+ So What?
+ Highlights
03
04
​Getting Started
​Tools for Building
Visualizations
​Aesthetic Design
Pages 7-14
Pages 15-31
Pages 32-39
+ Blogs
+ Best Practices
+ Best Practices
+ General
+ Choosing an
+ Colors
+ Data Sources
+ Timelines
+ Wireframing &
+ Dashboard Tools
Guidelines
Storyboarding
Approach
+ Graphs, Charts &
+ Fonts
+ Icons
+ Cover Pages
Infographics
+ Mapping Tools
+ Qualitative &
Multivariate
Tools
+ Video
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2
INTRODUCTION
​What are infographics?
›
Information graphics are visual representations of data or
knowledge intended to present complex information quickly
and clearly. They are typically designed manually and can be
composed of multiple graphs, diagrams, or illustrations
related to a single topic.
›
What are data visualizations?
›
Graphs or charts generated by software, using numerical data.
They can be quickly tweaked and altered.
›
Blogger Maria Popova called data visualization “the
intersection of art and algorithm.”
​What do they do?
›
Share information
›
Stimulate conversation
›
Tell a story
›
Amplify your reach
“Well designed visuals are particularly effective at enhancing
recall and retention of information in our audiences.”
– pg. 18, Data Visualization Part 2, Azzam & Evergreen
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3
SO WHAT?
Why Data Visualization Matters:
Graphic designer Nancy Duarte notes that business is moving
faster than ever and employees are expected to keep up with
the quick pace. She says Internet and mobile communications
have reconditioned people to prefer consuming information in
small chunks, like getting their news from Twitter and skimming
blogs between meetings. Today, content not boiled down to its
essence is a time waster.
The result? Inefficient communication has become ineffective
communication.
The evidence is everywhere. Some refer to it as “The Goldfish
Effect”—that the average adult attention span shortened from
12 to 8 seconds between 2000 and 2013 and is now shorter than
a goldfish’s 9 second attention span.
These small and easily consumable bits of information that
Duarte promotes are most effective when portrayed through or
accompanied by visuals. Articles that contain images get 94%
more views than articles that don’t—not surprising given that
65% of the US population are visual learners and visuals are
processed 60,000 times faster than text.
Image source: http://www.millstone-branding.nl/EN/about.htm
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4
Don’t have time to read
through this entire deck?
Here are a few of our
favorite tools &
resources.
​Looking for the master guide for data visualization and design,
from how to plan for great visualizations from the data collection
through to the execution? Check out the Data + Design free
eBook, a wonderful, comprehensive resource.
​Want to design interesting graphs, charts, and custom icons to
use in presentations and reports? Piktochart is one of our favorite
viz design tools. It has everything from infographic templates to
tools for creating icon matrixes (that are difficult to hack in Excel).
​Interested in improving your visualization and design skills
using the ubiquitous Microsoft Excel? Ann Emery’s Excel Video
Tutorials are fantastic resources.
​Aiming to improve the visual design of your reports and
presentations to present a mix of qualitative and quantitative
information more visually? Check out Nancy Duarte’s Slidedocs
guide and templates.’
​Want to be inspired, see great examples, and learn new tricks
and approaches to visualization? Storytelling with Data, and
PolicyViz,, Information is Beautiful are favorite bookmarks on our
browsers.
Image source: http://multimedia.journalism.berkeley.edu/blog/2012/oct/30/beyond-infographics-12-ways-visualize-data/
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5
So many resources!
How will I choose?
This deck was designed as an overview of the various tools
and best practices that are available across a number of
different dimensions of building data visualizations.
Understandably, that might feel a bit overwhelming. What
tool best meets my needs? What tool do other staff at JSI
already know how to use, so I can get some technical support
if encounter a challenge?
​Never fear. Throughout this deck, we’ve put stars on our
favorite resources in various categories, in hopes of keeping
you from feeling overwhelmed by resources. Note that many
people have their own preferences, so don’t be afraid to
experiment, try out different platforms, and share your
experiences!
Have your own resources to
add, recommendations to
share, or other feedback?
Please don’t hesitate to contact
Amanda Makulec with questions,
ideas, or suggestions.
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6
Useful Blogs for
Inspiration
Getting
Started
General Guidelines
Data Sources
Wireframing &
Storyboarding
Need Inspiration?
Check out these blogs
​Storytelling with Data: links to other blogs, tools and videos
designed to inspire and prepare you to tackle any data
visualization project. It also features projects and guidelines author
Cole Nussbaumer has developed on her own.
​Visualising Data: has a curated and comprehensive list of various
data visualization resources, many of which are featured in this
slide deck.
​Ann K. Emery: is an evaluator and data visualization enthusiast who
writes a robust and information-packed blog, including tutorials
on how to hack beautiful graphs in Excel.
​Excel Charts: has a host of tutorials and data visualization tools you
can use to expand your capabilities in Excel; it is especially useful if
this is platform you’re already familiar with.
​Flowing Data: features various tutorials on more advanced
possibilities of data visualization that can show you the range of
this medium.
​DataViz Catalogue Twitter: can link you to some of the most up to
date and innovative visualization projects.
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8
General Guidelines
›
What story do you want
to tell?
›
Who is your audience?
›
How does your audience
consume information?
​Data + Design is an e-book written by over fifty members of the
data visualization community that aims to make data simple and
visualization accessible for people without a technical background.
It covers data collection, visualization basics, design tips, and
mistakes to avoid.
​Visual Storytelling recommends keeping visual stories authentic,
sensory, relevant, and archetypal.
​Data Pine offers great advice on how to avoid misleading data
when creating visuals by being cautious with axis manipulation
and data omission and instead abiding by convention, being clear,
and avoiding PowerPoint in favor of simpler visualization and
dashboard tools that focus on the data. .
​“Why Most People’s Charts and Graphs Look Like Crap” is a blog
post on 10 common data visualization mistakes to avoid for clear
and effective data presentation, from arranging data nonintuitively, misrepresenting data, complicating visuals with dashed
lines or inappropriate color use, and using 3D.
​This TED blog is specific to creating better presentation slides and
recommends maintaining consistency, thinking about transitions,
limiting text, and focusing on the visual experience.
Avoid Logical Fallacies
Image source: http://www.economist.com/news/christmasspecials/21568586-internet-has-unleashed-burst-cartooningcreativity-triumph-nerds
​Looking for more inspiration? Help Me Viz has current projects
from the data visualization community. If your project doesn’t
contain sensitive information you can post it for feedback as you
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work on it or once you have completed it.
9
Data Sources
​General Sources:
Health Specific Sources:
If you don’t already have your
own data to work with, these
sites offer primary or
supplemental data.
​Google Trends clues you in
to what’s popular at any time
and over time.
The Demographic and
Health Surveys Program has
a Stat Compiler where you
can access the population
survey data collected by the
project over more than 25
years, which includes an
engine for building charts
and graphs.
​Mention lets you set up
alerts to see if and how JSI
and health topics are being
talked about on the web.
​A list of 30 open data
sources organized by topic.
Warning:
When using private data that
belongs to JSI, read data sharing
agreements. Many open source
web-based data visualization tools
are not secure. When you publish
your project on the site, your data
could become public. Instead of
publishing, take a screenshot to
protect your information.
Unfortunately, this may prevent
you from as easily embedding
some tools.
​Statistic Brain features
statistics on almost any
subject and is used by many
major news sources.
Data.gov allows you to
search thousands of
databases to access
government open data.
AIDS Vu allows you to look
at HIV/AIDS information next
to other statistics and
indicators. It is US specific.
CDC Data Bank offers health
data sorted by health topic.
​World Bank Data Bank allows
you to search databases and
development indicators.
​Google Public Data pulls
from hundred of online
open data sources.
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10
How to Approach
Building a
Visualization
​Though you may be tempted to jump into designing your data
visualization, it’s important to wireframe or storyboard first.
What are wireframes?
› The foundation on which to
begin building.
› Focus on structure, not design
elements.
› Often look like black and white
layouts that consider size,
placement, features, and
navigation.
› Range from basic brainstorms
and flowcharts to layouts:
What are storyboards?
› A graphic representation of
how a video or visualization
will unfold.
› Focus on storytelling, plot,
flow, and perspective.
› Often look like comic strips.
› Can be very detailed and
visual or more basic
sketches:
Why does this step matter?
These blueprint tools help you transition from abstract ideas to
tangible plans. They make it easier for you to share and explain
your vision and thereby facilitate collaboration and ensure that all
parties are on the same page. They emphasize usability and clarity
of content and can ultimately save you time.
Image sources: http://cartoonconceptdesign.blogspot.com/2013/02/enough-storyboarding.html, http://www.orbitmedia.com/blog/7-reasons-towireframe/, http://goanimate.com/video-maker-tips/what-is-a-storyboard-and-why-do-you-need-one/
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11
Wireframing &
Storyboarding
Web-Based Applications
​Mind Meister offers a simple
interface that permits
collaboration by connecting
directly to your Google Drive or
Dropbox account. Different
plans are different prices but
you can make 3 mind-maps for
free.
​Draw.io is a free online mind
mapping tool that also
connects to your Google Drive
or Dropbox and allows you to
create simple webs and flowcharts to brainstorm and
organize ideas.
​Twine is a simple and free
downloadable application that
can organize how scenarios
unfold in a non-linear story. As
you build a flowchart, each
small scene links to another
allowing you to build a map of
possible paths.
​Confused? Look at this blog or
video.
Image Source: https://pswapps28.wordpress.com/tag/mindmap/
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12
Wireframing &
Storyboarding
Web-Based Applications
​ toryboard That features a simple
S
interface and detailed image library
that serve to structure your ideas into
a linear and concise story. Basic and
infrequent use is free; an individual
plan is $5.95 per month.
​ isemapping is a free and simple
W
tool; select a node and use enter and
tab to link your ideas and organize
them into a web.
Image Source: https://pswapps28.wordpress.com/tag/mindmap/
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13
Wireframing &
Storyboarding
You can always use a traditional pen and paper to map out your
iPad Applications
greater range of color and styles to work with as well as “undo”
ideas (an approach we love!), but these free iPad applications
also allow you to draw with your hands while giving you a
and “delete” functions.
​Paper:
​Bamboo Paper:
​SketchBook Express:
Image Sources: http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/awesome-paper-sketching-app-for-the-ipad-video-30-03-2012/ ,
http://obamapacman.com/2011/06/wacom-ipad-note-taking-app-bamboo-paper/ , http://eurodroid.com/2011/07/19/autodesk-launchessketchbook-pro-for-android-tablets/
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14
Best Practices
Choosing an Approach
Timelines
Tools for
Building
Visualizations
DashboardTools
Graphs, Charts &
Infographics
MappingTools
Qualitative & Multivariate
Tools
Videos
Best Practices
Stephanie Evergreen developed a list of best practices
in graphic design to help you enhance the clarity and
impact of your data visualizations. These tips are
summarized here:
General Tips:
› Graph highlights a significant finding; emphasizes
what matters
› Graph is simple: Just because you can squeeze a
ton of information into a graph or infographic
does not mean you should.
› Appropriate type of graph is used
› Appropriate level of precision is used
› Contextualized or comparison data are present
› All chart elements work together to reinforce take
away message
› Graphs are less effective if relegated to an
appendix because the reader loses concentration
by flipping back and forth.
Layout Tips:
›
›
›
›
›
Proportions are accurate
Data are intentionally ordered
Axis intervals are equidistant
Graph is two dimensional
Display is free from distracting
decoration
› If you use Excel, remove the
extraneous details of the
default options (gridlines,
color, etc.)
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16
Choosing an
Approach
​Though you may worry you’ll bore your audience by using the
same chart many times, don’t use meaningless variety. Data
display selection should always be based on what’s optimal for the
relationship you want to show and not on the diversity of your
visualizations.
​Excel Charts allows you to chose the appropriate chart for the
relationship you wish you portray and includes a basic
classification chart.
​DataViz Catalogue (left) helps you select the best type of
visualization for the function or relationship you’d like to depict,
from standard bar graphs to histograms and timelines. Each
method has a description, examples, and links to online resources
to help you create the type of graph you have selected.
​Blockspring features different visualization methods. Choose one
and then upload your data from a spreadsheet.
​Diagrammer allows you to search for different downloadable
templates.
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17
Timelines
​Timeline JS is open source
web-based tool that allows
you to create interactive
timelines from Google
spreadsheets and publish
them on the web.
​Dipity allows you to create
interactive timelines with a
number of events, each of
which is clickable and
shareable and has its own
description and comments;
free accounts exist but limit
you to 150 events; premium
accounts ($4.95/month)
permit more customization.
​Tiki-Toki is a free web-based
timeline tool that allows you to
create interactive timelines with
clickable events. You can
integrate pictures and videos,
sort events into colored
categories, and allow your
friends or colleagues to edit
your timeline.
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18
Dashboard Tools
A dashboard is a visual display of the
most important information needed to
achieve one or more objectives,
consolidated on a single screen so it
can be monitored and understood at a
glance.
Contraceptive Security Index 2003-2012
Albania
20
Albania
Weighted Component and Total Scores
Year
2003
2006
2009
2012
Finance
Health & Social
Environment
Access
Utilization
Total
20 Points
20 Points
20 Points
20 Points
20 Points
100 points
#N/A
#N/A
15
17
#N/A
#N/A
10
11
#N/A
#N/A
16
15
#N/A
#N/A
7
9
#N/A
#N/A
12
11
#N/A
#N/A
61
61
Finance
15
Health & Social Environment
12
10
11
9
10
Access
7
Utilization
5
0
Weighted Component Scores, max= 20
2003
CS Index Indicators, Raw Data
Supply Chain
Year
Stora ge a nd
Di s tri buti on
2003
2006
2009
2012
#N/A
#N/A
18.48
18.10
LMIS
Foreca s ti ng
#N/A
#N/A
10.60
12.00
Finance
Procurement
#N/A
#N/A
8.00
8.00
Contra cepti ve
Pol i cy
#N/A
#N/A
7.75
7.50
#N/A
#N/A
-
Gov. Hea l th
Expendi ture
#N/A
#N/A
10.00
10.00
Per Ca pi ta
GNI, PPP
#N/A
#N/A
7,240.00
8,520.00
2006
2009
2012
Health and Social Environment
Poverty Level
Women's
Educa ti on
Governa nce
#N/A
#N/A
25.00
12.40
#N/A
#N/A
13.91
14.00
#N/A
#N/A
73.00
Adul t HIV
preva l ence
#N/A
#N/A
0.10
0.10
Access
Acces s to FP
Methods
#N/A
#N/A
-
Utilization
Publ i c Sector Spread of Access
to FP Methods
Ta rgeti ng
#N/A
#N/A
1.52
Method Mi x
Unmet Need
for FP
#N/A
#N/A
0.37
0.27
#N/A
#N/A
1.30
12.90
#N/A
#N/A
-
CPR
#N/A
#N/A
22.00
10.00
Select Region
Asia & the Pacific
Caribbean
Central Africa
Eastern Africa
Latin America
Middle East & North Af...
Finance
Southern Africa
West Africa
Health and Social Environment
20
20
18
This single eye span allows you to
make comparisons, evaluate, and draw
conclusions not possible when data is
fragmented by pages or scrolling.
Eastern Europe & Cent...
Supply Chain*
20
The best dashboards transform data
repositories into consumable
information, support visual
identification of trends and anomalies,
guide effective decision-making, and
serve as an adaptable mechanism for
information flow.*
Supply Chain
17
16
15
15
Supply Chain
18
18
16
Bangladesh
16
Bangladesh
16
Bangladesh
14
Cambodia
14
Cambodia
14
Cambodia
12
India
12
India
12
India
Indonesia
10
Mongolia
8
Indonesia
10
10
Mongolia
8
Nepal
8
Nepal
6
6
Pakistan
4
Philippines
4
Philippines
2
Viet Nam
2
Viet Nam
Pakistan
2003
2006
2009
2003
2012
Access
20
Indonesia
Mongolia
Nepal
Pakistan
4
Philippines
2
Viet Nam
0
0
0
6
2006
2009
2003
2012
2009
2012
Total
Utilization
20
2006
100
18
18
16
Bangladesh
16
Bangladesh
14
Cambodia
14
Cambodia
12
India
12
India
Indonesia
10
Indonesia
Mongolia
8
Mongolia
10
8
Nepal
6
Pakistan
4
Philippines
2
Viet Nam
6
Pakistan
4
Philippines
2
2003
2006
2009
2012
Bangladesh
Cambodia
India
60
Indonesia
Mongolia
40
Nepal
Pakistan
20
Philippines
Viet Nam
Viet Nam
0
0
0
80
Nepal
2003
2006
2009
2012
2003
2006
2009
2012
*Due to a change in the data collection methodology for some supply chain indicators, comparisons across time from 2003 to 2006 at the country level and at the individual supply chain indicator level are not advisable. Since 2006, no further changes were made and comparisons at the country level from 2006 into the future can be considered.
This publication was produced for review by the U.S. Agency for International Development. It was prepared by the USAID | DELIVER PROJECT, Task Order 4. The authors' views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development or the United States Government.
​Tableau Public is a web-based
tool for creating graphs and
interactive dashboards in which
you can examine multiple
visualizations at once, highlight
specific variables, drill down
into subgroups, change
timelines, and embed maps. It
is free to use but your data
becomes public.
​Excel based dashboards, like
the Contraceptive Security
Index (CSI) make use of a
common platform to make data
accessible. Dashboards can be
built in Excel with varying levels
of functionality and elegance.
This example from the USAID
DELIVER PROJECT can be
downloaded from the project
website for exploring CSI data.
Additional resources on
building Excel dashboards are
available upon request
Image source: http://www.datadrivenconsulting.com/2010/09/tableau-as-a-dashboard-platform/; *from Data Visualization Part 2 edited by Tarek
Azzam and Stephanie Evergreen pgs. 22, 31,32
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Graphs, Charts &
Infographics
These tools are recommended for
making graphs and charts to embed in
presentations, reports, etc.
​DataWrapper is a free open
source tool to make any kind
of embeddable graph.
​Plot.ly is a free online tool in
which your data is secure and
protected; you can upload from
several different sources.
​Polycharts is a free and open
source tool for easily
analyzing data through charts
and dashboards.
​iCharts allows you to upload
data from Excel, Google drive,
or by manually entering it. You
can then use their design
templates to make charts
interactive and embed them in
newsletters, social networks and
websites. Accounts are free.
Image sources: http://www.free-power-point-templates.com/articles/polychart-create-awesome-charts-for-powerpoint-using-your-own-data/ http://driven-by|
data.net/about/datawrapper/#/0, http://scipy-central.org/item/72/2/httpsplotly,
20
Graphs, Charts &
Infographics
These tools are recommended for
making infographics and designoriented content.
​Infogr.am is a free online tool
to create beautiful graphs and
infographics; to embed your
projects you must publish them
publically.
​Easel.ly allows you to create a
stylish infographic at no cost
using customizable existing
templates or by starting with a
blank template.
​Piktochart has a variety of
templates including many
specialized themes which you
can customize with your own
statistics and data. Starts free;
monthly packages start at $29
per month but discounts are
available for non-profit and
educational institutions.
​Canva allows you to quickly
and simply create graphics,
from infographics to business
cards and posters, by dragging
and dropping images; its free
to use and many of the
graphics are either free or
inexpensive. It also includes
simple photo-editing online.
Image sources: https://visualisingadvocacy.org/resources/tools/infogram, http://www.tomfanelli.com/forget-the-designer-make-your-own-infographic/,
http://blog.canva.com/category/top/,
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21
Graphs, Charts &
Infographics
These tools are recommended to make
very simple data visualizations without
needing technical skills.
Gliffy offers less aesthetic design
features than Easel.ly or Piktochart,
but its simple drag and drop function
allows you to simply create diagrams
and flowcharts.
​Lovely Charts is available on desktops
and as a mobile app; the interface
allows you to create visually appealing
charts without much hassle. You can
drag and drop built-in images or
import your own.
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Responsive Charts
​Chartist.js is a charting library that allows you to build responsive
charts that change size, scale, and granularity when viewed on the
varying screen sizes of desktop computers, tablets, and smart
phones.
​Chart.js and High Charts offer similar services.
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23
Charting
Demographic
Trends
​Gapminder allows you to track social
​.
changes by country over time, from
health topics to wealth and other
social determinants of health; con:
you can’t input your own data.
Social Explorer also allows you to
track social change but most of the
data resources are domestic rather
than international.
|
Image Sources: http://geekapedia.global2.vic.edu.au/2010/04/11/gapminder-world/ : :
24
Mapping Tools
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
mapping allows you to visualize
relationships you might not otherwise
see.
One classic example is JSI’s namesake,
John Snow, who mapped cholera deaths
during the outbreak in London in the
late 19th century and discovered a trend
centered around the Broad Street water
pump, thereby determining how the
disease spread and finding a way to
prevent further infection.
​Kartograph allows you to
create simple and interactive
vector maps that are either
compact SVG maps or
interactive and embeddable
in all major browsers.
IndieMapper is a free and simple
service that allows you to make
static, thematic maps from
geographic data without
overwhelming you with
hundreds of GIS functions.
​Polymaps a free JavaScript
library that is ideal for
zooming in and out of levels
from country to state to cities,
neighborhoods and streets.
​GeoCommons allows you to
create interactive visualizations
without being familiar with
traditional mapping tools; creates
an open repository of data so
what you create may not be
private.
Image source: http://visualisingdata.com/index.php/2013/09/essential-resources-mapping-applications-frameworks-and-libraries/
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25
Mapping Tools
​Target Map offers a free service
to create customized data
maps; works with data from
excel files.
​ArcGis allows you to integrate
data layers on maps, globes and
models; there is a free trial but a
single basic license costs $1,500.
​Quantum GIS is a free user
friendly open source system in
which you can create, edit,
visualize, analyze and publish
for Windows, Mac, Linux, and
BSD.
​CartoDB allows you to create
multi-layer and fully interactive
maps with just a few clicks; it is
free for unlimited time but
restricts the amount of maps
you can make; you can
purchase more space.
Image source: http://visualisingdata.com/index.php/2013/09/essential-resources-mapping-applications-frameworks-and-libraries/
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Mapping Tools
​Mapbox allows you to create
simple maps that integrate
into applications and social
media.
​Data Appeal‘s mission is to
make data more beautiful and
therefore more consumable
and usable. There is a basic free
plan which you can upgrade for
more advanced options.
​OpenHeat Map is a simple way
for non-specialists to create
maps from excel and google
spreadsheets.
​BatchGeo allows you to make
basic google maps; you can
enter addresses, intersections,
cities, states, and postal codes
to be pinpointed on a map.
Image source: http://visualisingdata.com/index.php/2013/09/essential-resources-mapping-applications-frameworks-and-libraries/
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27
Social Network
Mapping
Looking for more? Butler Analytics offers
this list of free social network analysis tools.
​Gephi is an open source
platform that is capable of
handling very large network
graphs. It is ideal for social
network analysis, link analysis,
and network analysis. For an
open source tool it is very
advanced and allows you to
interact with the representation
and manipulate the structures,
shapes, and colors to reveal
hidden relationships.
Node XL is a free open source
Excel template that allows you
to explore network graphs in a
familiar program. It has a
flexible layout that is easily
customized to your needs, and
networks can be directly
imported from social media.
​Social Networks Visualizer is a
cross platform, user-friendly
tool that allows you to draw
networks or load an existing
one and compute statistics and
centralities and apply various
layout algorithms based on
centrality or prestige indices.
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Qualitative &
Multivariate Tools
The greatest benefit of qualitative data
is its complexity and ability to account
for ambiguity and subtlety.
Unfortunately, this does not lend itself
well to visualization and there are many
logistical and methodological
challenges. The chart to the right shows
some possible ways to visualize
qualitative data, but the easiest tools
may not be the most helpful and the
more complicated tools may defeat the
purpose of data visualization.
Sometimes, it may just be best to rely
on text excerpts and longer narratives.
Source: pg. 56 of Data Visualization Part 1 edited by Tarek Azzam and Stephanie Evergreen
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Qualitative &
Multivariate Tools
​Wordles are perhaps the most commonly
used qualitative data visualization tool.
Though they can help you find dominant
themes in a text, they determine frequency
and overlook nuances like contextual
meaning. They can also be misleading
because longer words take up more space. .
​Sankey Diagrams help you to visualize
continuous data; this one specifically allows
you to visualize relationships between
dimensions of categorical data.
​Circos attempts to bring aesthetic to science
and also balance flexibility with ease of use;
it is ideal for visualizing relationships
between objects or positions.
Image source: http://visualisingdata.com/index.php/2013/09/essential-resources-multivariate-network-and-qualitative-visualisations/
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Videos
​Go Animate is the market leader in do-it-yourself animations.
It is an extremely simple way to make customizable short
videos without much prior experience. There is a monthly fee.
​Check out this short overview.
​Razor Social, a social media tools website, lists five other
online video animation tools with descriptions here.
Image source: https://edshelf.com/tool/goanimate
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Aesthetic
Design
Tools
Best Practices
Colors
Fonts
Icons
Cover Pages
Design Best Practices
Selected from Stephanie Evergreen’s checklist
and the Data + Design eBook.
Remember, you are using design to tell a story. Every detail
should be a deliberate piece of your narrative. For example,
use size and color to create a hierarchy of ideas. Complicated
fonts or indistinct colors that require the reader to struggle
just a second, and fonts and colors associated with
certain ideas (comic sans for comics, pink for
women), should be used carefully. Remove
extraneous gridlines, visuals
and color gradation; these
are all disruptive visual
noise.
Font:
› Strive for simplicity, legibility, and
readability
› Use serif fonts
› 9-12 font size reads easiest
› No more than 3 fonts are used
› Line spacing is 11-13 points
› Body text has stylistic unity
› Headers and callouts are
emphasized
› Bullets are less thick than text
Color:
› Narrative text is dark
grey or black
› Background has subdued color
› Leave white space
› Gray and neutrals help color to pop
› De-emphasize unimportant
information
› One or two emphasis colors are used
for highlighting information
› Be selective in application of
emphasis
› Color changes are intentional and
organizational for enhancing
understanding
› Color can express value
› Color prints legibly in black &| white
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Color
​Adobe Kuler allows you to
browse themes and color
palettes or create your own.
You are limited to five colors.
The five color scheme you
create can be exported directly
into Adobe Photoshop, Adobe
Illustrator, and Adobe
InDesign.
​Color Brewer helps you to
select color schemes for maps
and other graphics; it is free to
use.
​HCL Colorpicker allows you to
pick hue, chroma, and lightness.
Image sources: http://www.digitalchalk.com/blog/design-your-course-with-adobe-kuler, http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/blogs/elegantfigures/,
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Color
​LCH Color Gradient Picker
creates an array of gradient
color options that you can
toggle to find related colors.
​Design Seeds helps you find
colors by their RGB value or by
theme.
​I Want Hue helps you to
generate and refine palettes of
optimally distinct colors
​Color Explorer allows you to
import colors from images you
upload, browse color libraries,
and create matching patterns.
Image sources: http://www.visualisingdata.com/index.php/2013/08/tools-and-resources-for-working-with-colour/,, http://webdesignledger.com/tools/10super-useful-tools-for-choosing-the-right-color-palette, http://www.iebdev.com/2013/02/22/i-want-hue-generando-paletas-de-colores/,,
http://annehornyak.com/2012/02/19/design-seeds/
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Color
For the Colorblind
​Because so many people have color deficiencies (like color
blindness) VisCheck and Check My Colors can help you to check
and correct color combinations to ensure they are as clear as
possible to everyone.
Image source: http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/how-we-all-go-colour-blind-with-age/story-fneuzlbd-1226638366938
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Fonts
​Font Comparer allows you to
compare different fonts at a
glance.
​Font Picker allows you to enter a
phrase and scroll through to see
how it looks in different fonts.
​Designer Plaything allows you
to test different fonts and
colors and see how they look
next to each other.
​Typetester allows you to
compare different fonts with
the added comparison of bold,
italic, uppercase letters, etc.
Image sources: http://www.projecttres.org/compare-different-fonts-online-font-comparer/, http://www.dreamtemplate.com/blog/web-design-tips/the-most-useful|
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typography-tools/,, http://slodive.com/web-development/20-apps-cloud-based-web-dev/,
Icons
.
The Data + Design eBook encourages using
icons deliberately and carefully to never be
in a situation where a reader wonders why
an icon has been used or what it means.
The more simple and literal an icon is, the
better. Avoid metaphors. Be especially
careful with sizing when using icons in
graphs.
​The Noun Project is a great place to find any icon you can think of;
most images have multiple designs.
Image Source: http://matiasrinne.blogspot.com/
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Cover Pages
.
Cover pages offer a space where you can
immediately grab your readers’ attention
with a visual. Make sure all visuals are
relevant to telling your narrative.
​Taxgedo allows you to create images out of words. Though this
may not help you to visualize data, it could be a fun tool for a
report cover. You can choose the image you’d like to create and
the words and colors you’d like to use.
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Think you’re done?
​Go back and read the General Guidelines slide to make sure you’ve
avoided all the pitfalls of misleading or unclear data visualization
and have adhered to data visualization best practices.
​Another great “best practice” to make sure you’re communicating
your message effectively is to hand your data visualization to a
coworker to determine if it makes sense and is easy to quickly
understand.
Finally, review this checklist created
by evaluator and visualization expert
Stephanie Evergreen to ensure maximum
clarity and effectiveness within your data
visualization project.
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Connect
DataVizHub.co
Questions, updates, ideas, or suggestions?
Amanda Makulec | [email protected]