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

Preparing and familiarizing yourself with your data


The following is a quote from Simon Rogers, The Guardian, Facts Are Sacred: The Power of Data:

"80% perspiration, 10% great idea, 10% output."

Before we get too far down the line of developing and defining our intended stories and analytical slices, we need to roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty with the task of accessing and preparing our data.

Whether you get the data first or shape your desired story dimensions first is mainly going to be influenced by the context of your project. It is a somewhat "chicken and egg" situation—which comes first, the data or the focus? You need some focus to determine what data you need, but you don't know what potential insights exist in the data until you have it.

It is best to accept that there will be a certain amount of iteration as you alternate between the mindset of a data scientist and a journalist progressing both issues simultaneously.

Data is our raw material, the principle ingredient in...