I spent the weekend-before-last in Potsdam, Germany attending the Information Plus Conference. In its second iteration (the first was in Vancouver in 2016), Info+ brings together designers, academics, and practitioners to discuss the current state of data visualization work and...
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Episode #137: Information+ Conference

Jon Schwabish | Economist, Data Visualization, and Presentation Specialist

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Nicole Lachenmeier and Darjan Hil’s new book, Visualizing Complexity: Modular Information Design Handbook, focuses on deconstructing data encodings into fundamental elements to create effective visualizations. They take an exciting and hands-on approach to data visualization design for their own work and how they teach design to others. In this week’s episode of the podcast, our conversation highlights Nicole and Darjan’s journey in data design and how they stress the importance of deliberate thinking, manual effort, and critical analysis in their design process. While our conversation often focuses on the details of the book, we also take a larger perspective to data visualization and discuss the need to simplify data for better comprehension through hands-on visualization workshops and the significance of selecting appropriate charts. We explore the complexity of chart selection and focus on breaking down elements of charts and graphs for better design. Nicole and Darjan talk about their collaborative process of writing a book that effectively integrates visuals and text along with the challenges they encountered and the positive feedback they’ve received.➡️ Check out more links, notes, transcript, and more at the PolicyViz website.Topics Discussed  Authors’ Journey in Data Design. Nicole and Darjan share their extensive experiences in the field and their emphasis on deliberate thinking, manual effort, and critical analysis as pillars of the design process.  Understanding Basic Visualizations. We discuss the importance of mastering fundamental visualization techniques and using manual sketching as a vital tool for improving design skills and fostering creativity.  Selecting Appropriate Charts. We talk about the complexities inherent in choosing the right chart for your data and how their approach can help you break down chart elements into elementary pieces  Book Creation and Integration. The authors share their collaborative process of merging visuals and text in their new book

Deconstructing Data: The Modular Information Design Handbook with Nicole

Nathan Yau’s Flowing Data website was one of the first data visualization websites I discovered in my own data journey. With his new book, Visualize This, now out, I thought it would be a great opportunity to talk with Nathan about his work, his book, and how his own approach to data has evolved over the last several years. The new edition of Visualize This enriches readers with modern techniques and examples, focusing on effectively learning data visualization by exploring different data types and designing for clear communication, even for those without a formal design background. Nathan emphasizes the necessity of audience-appropriate visualizations and the selection of suitable tools, all of which have changed and evolved since the first edition of the book was published in 2011. We obviously talk about the latest book in this episode of the podcast, including Nathan’s process for creating graphics (a lot of R and Adobe Illustrator), his professional growth from a statistics PhD program to embracing full-time visualization work. We discuss the nuances of handling feedback, the differentiation between misinformation and subjective interpretation, and the significance of constructive criticism. We also touch on challenges for newcomers in the field, the need for clearer communication of uncertainty, and the potential of virtual and augmented reality. ➡️ Check out more links, notes, transcript, and more at the PolicyViz website. Topics Discussed  Updated Techniques and Modern Examples: Nathan’s new edition of “Visualize This” brings to the forefront the latest in data visualization, incorporating modern techniques and examples that cater to both beginners and seasoned practitioners.  Learning by Exploring: The book emphasizes a hands-on approach to understanding data visualization. It guides readers through exploring different data types and designing visualizations that communicate clearly, irrespective of the reader’s design background.  Personal Data Collection and Analysis: Nathan shares his insights into the importance of personal data collection for self-analysis, a practice influenced by his time at the New York Times. This self-exploratory journey into data helps individuals understand the nuances of their own information.  The Growth of Flowing Data: Nathan reflects on the evolution of his      platform, Flowing Data, highlighting its expansion to include daily      emails, tutorials, and personal projects.

Evolving Data Visualization: Crafting the Second Edition of Visualize This with Nathan Yau

Welcome to a solo episode! In this special episode of the podcast, I talk about the recen Tableau Customer conference in San Diego, which drew over 9,000 participants. I reflect on various aspects of the conference, including its diverse sessions that ranged from showcasing new Tableau features and case studies to hands-on workshops and discussions on data visualization beyond Tableau. I was a presenter at TC and presented my work on the Urban Institute’s Do No Harm Project. My review of the conference focuses just on the positives of the conference—the upcoming features in Tableau, such as allowing Tableau Public users to save work their locally, as well as some thoughts on why I—who is not a huge Tableau user—actually attends the conference. I also discuss a few of the sessions I attended, including hands-on sessions and games in Tableau.Topics Discussed  Conference Overview: A recap of the Tableau Conference, highlighting its scale with over 9,000 participants and the variety of sessions that catered to both seasoned data analysts and newcomers to the field.  Tableau’s New Features. Significant updates to Tableau, including the ability for Tableau Public users to save work locally – a feature that potentially redefines the need for Tableau Desktop licenses. I also talk about the introduction of customizable themes, Google Fonts integration, VIS Extensions, and the leaps in AI and real-time data integration within Tableau.  Community and Networking: I reflect on the value of the community that Tableau fosters, especially through networking opportunities that are more crucial than ever in the post-pandemic era.➡️ Check out more links, notes, transcript, and more at the PolicyViz website.

Insights from the Tableau Conference in San Diego

You know Enrico Bertini, right? Writer, teacher, co-host of the Data Stories podcast, Enrico does it all. Now at Northeastern University, I invited Enrico to the show to talk about his research, great Substack newsletter, and for views on the evolving landscape of data visualization on social media. In our discussion, Enrico emphasized the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration at Northeastern University. He has some concerns about the current state of visualization theory and tools and talks about his ideas around “critical data thinking” as a crucial way of thinking about data visualization, highlighting the challenges of data accuracy and interpretation. We also talk about Enrico’s teaching methods to help students improve their data interpretation and data visualization skills. Enrico and I share some of the same feelings about the shifts in social media use in the dataviz community, and how it has led to a loss in diverse intellectual exchanges, underscoring the importance of finding new ways to foster community engagement and creativity, including through writing platforms like Substack and LinkedIn.Topics Discussed  The Current State of Visualization Theories and Tools: Enrico critiques the prevalent theories and tools in data visualization, calling for a more systematic and thoughtful approach to both creating and interpreting visual data.  Challenges of Presenting Accurate Data: Our conversation delves into the difficulties faced in presenting precise and accurate data, especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these challenges have impacted the field.  Impact of Social Media Platform Shifts: A significant focus of our conversation is on the changing landscape of social media platforms, particularly the decline of Twitter as a crucial space for professional exchanges within the data visualization community.  Reflections Prompted by the Pandemic: Enrico reflects on the pandemic’s role in helping him reevaluate his work and teaching practices, which is a helpful insight into how his creativity has changed and adapted over the last few years.  The Role of Newsletters in Idea Refinement and Audience Connection: Enrico shares insights into how newsletters have become a pivotal tool for refining ideas and connecting with a diverse audience, including students from various disciplines, fostering a richer, more engaged community.  Interdisciplinary Collaboration for Innovation: Highlighting the value of interdisciplinary collaboration, especially at Northeastern, this week’s episode showcases how interactions between computer science engineering students and design peers, as well as varied problem-solving approaches from faculty members, can lead to fresh insights and propel the field forward.➡️ Check out more links, notes, transcript, and more at the PolicyViz website. Sponsor: Whisper Transcribe Whisper Transcribe is an absolute game changer in the world of transcription and AI-generated content creation! Get an accurate transcript from your audio and video files and automatically generate content directly from it. Check out Whisper Transcribe

Visualizing the Future: Navigating the Shifts in Data Storytelling with Enrico Bertini

On this week’s episode of the podcast, I speak to author and teacher Nick Desbarats about his new book, Practical Charts: The Essential Guide to Creating Clear, Compelling Charts for Reports and Presentations.  Our conversation covers choosing appropriate chart types, emphasizing simplicity and clarity, and understanding when to use different formats. Nick aims to challenge dogmatic views on charts, such as the use of pie charts, and stresses the importance of catering to the audience’s familiarity with graph types. Our chat also includes insights on transitioning to online teaching during the pandemic, the distinction between clear graphs and dashboards, and the significance of mastering fundamentals in data visualization for beginners and intermediates. If you’re familiar with Stephen Few’s work, you’re also bound to find some behind-the-scenes gems in this week’s episode. Topics Discussed  Choosing the Right Chart. Nick kicks off our conversation with an essential primer on selecting the appropriate chart types for different datasets. His focus is on simplicity and clarity, ensuring that the chosen chart communicates the intended message as effectively as possible.  Challenging Chart Dogmas. Prepare to have your preconceptions challenged as Nick takes on the controversial stance on pie charts and other commonly debated graph types. It’s all about breaking the mold and understanding why certain charts work better for specific audiences.  Catering to Audience Familiarity. A significant portion of our chat is dedicated to the importance of tailoring chart choices to the audience’s level of comfort and familiarity with different types of graphs. This segment is crucial for anyone looking to maximize the impact of their data presentations.➡️ Check out more links, notes, transcript, and more at the PolicyViz website. Sponsor: Whisper Transcribe Whisper Transcribe is an absolute game changer in the world of transcription and AI-generated content creation! Get an accurate transcript from your audio and video files and automatically generate content directly from it. Check out Whisper Transcribe

Episode #137: Information+ Conference

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