Do graphs always have to have a zero baseline? Are pie charts evil? Is there a single, “right” answer? In this episode, Cole discusses a number of myths and a few rules in data visualization. She also answers listener Q&A on how to deal with presenting materials you aren’t necessarily proud of, strategies for graphing uneven time intervals, and tips for teams interested in developing data visualization skills.

LINKS:

June #SWDchallenge: slopegraphs

Blog post: connecting...the dots

Podcast: Jon & I chat about non-zero baselines

Blog post: bar charts must have a zero baseline

Blog post: a little math on non-zero baselines

Study: an illustrated tour of the pie charts study results

Blog post: F**k it, let’s use pie charts

Podcast: a conversation with Alberto Cairo (Episode 7)

Book: Data Points

Book: Factfulness

Medium series: Data Visualization, Fast & Slow

Podcast: constraints (Episode 5)

New blog page: #SWDchallenge

Questions? email [email protected]

Feedback? email [email protected]

Follow @storywithdata | share via #SWDpodcast

Truth or Lie? It isn’t that simple or binary when it comes to visualizing and communicating with data: there is a spectrum. In this episode, Cole talks with special guest, famed professor, author, and data journalist Alberto Cairo, about truth with a lowercase “t,” his efforts to bring graphical literacy to the public through the Visual Trumpery tour and his upcoming book, parallels between data visualization & writing, and more.

LINKS:

Website: albertocairo.com

Blog: thefunctionalart.com

Twitter: @albertocairo

Video: Visual Trumpery (Ihaka lecture)

Article: Alberto’s collaboration with Google News Lab

Google News Lab’s Data Visualization Projects

Upcoming MOOC: data visualization for storytelling & discovery

Tool: InZight for Data Analysis

Whether it’s a graph, a slide, a presentation, your message, a story—there can be immense value in talking through it, out loud. In this session, Cole discusses her experiences and the benefits to speaking out loud to refine, practice, and identify better solutions. Cole also answers listener questions on the use of pictures in data visualization, tricks for formatting axis labels, and how to apply data storytelling to augment regular reporting.

LINKS:

Article: The Perks of Talking to Yourself

Study: This time it’s personal: the memory benefit of hearing onesself (related article)

Study: ISOTYPE Visualization – Working Memory, Performance, and Engagement with Pictographs (related post)

Blog post: supercategory axis labels in Excel

Blog post: gridlines are gratuitous

Blog post: #SWDchallenge square area graphs (recap coming soon!)

Workshop/training inquiries: [email protected]

Questions? email [email protected]

Feedback? email [email protected]

Follow @storywithdata | share via #SWDpodcast

We often complain about the constraints we face when communicating via a presentation: we don’t have enough time, we don’t have the right tools, we are only allowed a limited number of slides. In this episode, Cole discusses how constraints can actually be amazing and how imposing constraints intentionally on our work can better arm us to deal with those constraints that are less in our control. Cole also answers reader questions on strategies for upskilling data visualization across an organization, the best place to put monetary symbols, using different types of graphs together, and the use of color in data visualization.

LINKS:

Recent blog post illustrating different graph types on same slide

March #SWDchallenge recap: bring on the bars

Updates: upcoming public workshop in SF, Audible book

Big Book of Dashboards

Workshop/training inquiries: [email protected]

Questions? email [email protected]

Feedback? email [email protected]

“It depends.” These two simple words can answer a number of questions raised when it comes to visualizing data and communicating with it effectively. In this session, Cole discusses 10 common data visualization questions where the answer is “it depends” and discusses what it depends on and the critical thought process required for success in this space. Cole also answers reader questions on considerations between lower and upper case in data visualization related text and Excel resources.

Mentioned Show Links:

Study on pie charts by Robert Kosara & Drew Skau

F**ck it, let’s use pie charts by Jon Schwabish

Misleading data & visualizations video, Alberto Cairo at Urban Institute

Visualizing incomplete & missing data + Visualizing the uncertainty in data by Nathan Yau

Recent #SWDchallenge: 88 annotated line graphsRecent SWD post incorporating reader feedback on where to put text by Elizabeth Ricks

How much labeling should you include in a visualization? + Is white space always your friend? by Neil Richards

Excel resources: SWD excel downloads, annkemery.com, Peltier Tech & Chandoo

Updates: Audible book, upcoming public workshops in London, Zurich, SF & Seattle

Questions? email [email protected]

Feedback? email [email protected]

“How did you start storytelling with data?” is a question I receive frequently. In this episode, I’m interviewed by my husband, Randy, and field questions on how it all came to be, including finding balance between work and family, some book-writing tips, and my outlook on where SWD will go from here.

Mentioned Show Links:

Follow Randy on Twitter | LinkedIn

Google Project Oxygen Study: NYT Article | HBR Business Case

Blog posts mentioned: the book you’re holding might be a fake! | that’s not my workshop...  

Cole's chocolate chip cookie recipe!

Cole's Baked French Toast recipe!

Questions? email [email protected]

Feedback? email [email protected]

The term "storytelling" is more popular than ever—but moving beyond the buzzword—there is real impact that you can have by framing your data in story. In this episode, Cole shares her perspective on what makes a story and why those working with data should care. She tackles listener Q&A on data visualization vs. storytelling, NFL football stats, and how to tell when a visualization is complete.

Be sure to subscribe and write a review if you like what you hear! 

Mentioned show links:

• Books: Larry Gets Lost, The Cat in the Hat, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
• Video: the future of storytelling
• Other perspectives on story: Jon Schwabish, Robert Kosara
• Video: example telling a story with data in a live setting & standalone (starting at 17:30)
• Questions? email [email protected]
• Feedback? email [email protected]

Feedback is a critical component for refining and perfecting data visualization. In this first episode, Cole discusses both the value of giving and receiving dataviz feedback and potential problem areas to avoid. Hear The Economist’s response to the recent hurricane data visualization challenge as well as answers to reader questions on the topics of when to use graphs, considerations with dashboards and dataviz 101 book resources.

Be sure to subscribe and write a review if you like what you hear!

Mentioned show links:

• Feedback? email [email protected]
• Blog post: SWD makeover challenge on The Economist’s hurricane graph
• Article: “Design & Redesign in Data Visualization” by Fernanda Viegas & Martin Wattenberg
• Blog post: my guiding principles
• Article: The subtle art that differentiates good designers from great designers by UX Planet
• Blog post: a tale about opportunity
• Book: The Big Book of Dashboards by Steve Wexler, Jeff Shaffer & Andy Cotgreave
• Questions? email [email protected]