Book Image

Data Visualization: a successful design process

Book Image

Data Visualization: a successful design process

Overview of this book

Do you want to create more attractive charts? Or do you have huge data sets and need to unearth the key insights in a visual manner? Data visualization is the representation and presentation of data, using proven design techniques to bring alive the patterns, stories and key insights locked away."Data Visualization: a Successful Design Process" explores the unique fusion of art and science that is data visualization; a discipline for which instinct alone is insufficient for you to succeed in enabling audiences to discover key trends, insights and discoveries from your data. This book will equip you with the key techniques required to overcome contemporary data visualization challenges. You'll discover a proven design methodology that helps you develop invaluable knowledge and practical capabilities.You'll never again settle for a default Excel chart or resort to "fancy-looking" graphs. You will be able to work from the starting point of acquiring, preparing and familiarizing with your data, right through to concept design. Choose your "killer" visual representation to engage and inform your audience."Data Visualization: a Successful Design Process" will inspire you to relish any visualization project with greater confidence and bullish know-how; turning challenges into exciting design opportunities.
Table of Contents (13 chapters)
Data Visualization: a successful design process
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

The "eight hats" of data visualization design


The final scoping issue to consider at this stage of your visualization design project is an assessment of your personal capabilities and those of any collaborators that you involve in the work. What skills and knowledge do you collectively possess or lack? This is a big issue for many, so we need to spend the remaining pages of this chapter looking at it closely.

The demands on a visualization designer in terms of capability are many, reflecting the truly multidisciplinary nature of the subject. The convergence of different ingredients introduces a wonderful richness and variety of issues to be concerned with, but it can equally present quite a challenge for people looking to master the subject.

For many, the prospect of trying to acquire the necessary array of knowledge and skill across the entire range of capabilities is something that can be intimidating or at least exist as a perceptual barrier. There is a sense that to be successful you need...