Helping you become a more effective information designer. You want to create effective data visualizations. That’s hard work. There are so many decisions to make, like chart type, annotations, and color! Will this podcast help? Host and fellow data viz designer Alli Torban is in the trenches with you. She shares the latest tools and methods that she’s discovered while on the job and interviewing top designers. If you’re an analyst, journalist, or designer who wants to hone your skills with specific tactics, then this show could be just what you need.
44: 3 Steps to Find & Strengthen Your Biggest Data Literacy Weakness - Featuring Ben Jones of Data Literacy LLC
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
43: How to Visualize Paths Through Time with a Narrative Chart - Featuring Sahil Chinoy and Jessia Ma
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
42: How to Use Audio to Enhance Your Data Storytelling - Featuring Duncan Clark
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
41: [Mini] How to Go on a Color Diet
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!
40: How to Add Small Multiples to Your Flow Charts - Featuring Chris DeMartini
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
39: [Mini] 3 Design Tweaks that Make a Big Difference
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
38: How to Use Writing to Improve Your Vizzing - Featuring Tiziana Alocci & Piero Zagami
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
BONUS: Setting Your 2019 Data Viz Goals + Data Stories 2018 Year in Review Rebroadcast
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!
37: How to Be Consistently Creative - A Journey to Find Info We Trust - Featuring RJ Andrews
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
36: How to Experiment With Visualization & Handle Critiques - Featured Data Visualization by Richie Lionell
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
35: [Mini] 3 Techniques to Handle Overplotting
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!
34: How to Harness the Power & Beauty of a Box Plot - Featured Data Visualization by Eric William Lin
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
33: [Mini] How to Discover Relevant Stories in Your Data by Taking an Editor’s Perspective
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
32: How to Add Impact & Inform Your Reader by Handing Over the Power - Featured Data Visualization by Ludovic Tavernier
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
31: How to Decide If Your Visualization Should Be 3D - Featured Data Visualization by Ryan Baumann
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!