This document discusses strategies for presenting complex data visually. It notes that visual presentations can increase excitement, information retention, and clarity. Effective visualizations (1) have a clear purpose and focus, (2) use the right information, (3) have the correct structure, and (4) are in a useful format. The document recommends determining the audience and desired understanding before choosing a static infographic or interactive visualization. It also stresses using good quality data and balancing complexity, data, and design. Several online tools for creating visualizations are listed.

1. PRESENTING
COMPLEX DATA
VISUALLY

2. What time is it?

3. What time is it?

4. What time is it?

5. Why Present Data Visually?
It creates
excitement
It creates
something
shareable
It makes complex
data easier to
understand
It increases
information
retention
It pulls out key
messages and
provides clarity
You control the
message

6. • “Information overload or data glut” – David
McCandless
• Language of the eye (patterns, colours) + the
language of the mind (words) = speaking two
languages simultaneously
• Visual Information is effortless to consume.

7. Communicating Research Effectively:
Making Shareable Products

8. Presenting information in a way that
tells a story

10. Infographics can also
present data in a
variety of forms in
one central place,
bringing together
information into one
central place for
sharing.

11. Four key consideration
1. Purpose and Focus
2. The right information
3. Correct structure
4. Useful formation

12. Who, What, How?
• Who are you communicating with?
• What do you need people to understand?
• How is it going to be consumed?
• Static media (infographic) vs. Interactive
visualisation?

13. Good data is a must

14. Paradox of data visualisation
• The more complex a
visualisation, the less
comprehensible it
usually is.
• Balance: data +
technology
+ design

16. Remember our clocks?
Information can be provided in a variety of ways BUT make sure it is:
• FIT FOR PURPOSE
• CLEAR
• EASILY UNDERSTOOD
• SIMPLE

17. Software/Tools
Creately: this is easy to use Online Diagramming
software - purpose built for team collaboration.
http://creately.com/
Hohli: this online chart maker is simple to use and
allows you to create a range of colourful pie, line
scatter, radar and bar charts. http://charts.hohli.com/
Tableau: a free Windows-only software for creating
colourful data visualisations.
http://www.tableausoftware.com/public/

18. Software/Tools
Gap Minder (Hans Rosling): allows you to upload data
and create an interactive chart.
http://www.gapminder.org/upload-data/
Many Eyes: allows you to upload data in a range of very
versatile formats. http://www-
958.ibm.com/software/data/cognos/manyeyes/
Google Chart Tools: allows you to include
constantly changing research data sourced online.
http://code.google.com/apis/chart/
Piktochart: easy to make infographics.
piktochart.com

19. Activity
1. In groups, think of data you want to share.
2. Create a visualisation of that data (it may be a graph you have
produced before)
3. Using the principles we have learnt think about how else you
could present these linkages?
4. What other information may nuance and create patterns you
want to show?
5. Create visualisation (use pencil, pen, markers, sticky notes
etc. Go wild)