Andy Kirk's 'Data Summit 17' Presentation

1. The Good, The Bad
and The Greys of Data
Visualisation Design
Andy Kirk
www.visualisingdata.com | @visualisingdata

2. THE GOOD
{do more of this stuff}

3. 3Visualisation from http://filmographics.visualisingdata.com/
#1 Be curious: Questions fuel data visualisation
“What is the pattern of success or failure in the
movie careers of a range of notable actors?”

4. 4Visualisation from http://www.visualisingdata.com/2016/05/boom-bust-shape-roller-coaster-season/
#1 Be curious: Questions fuel data visualisation
“What percentage of Liverpool FC’s matches
during the 2015/16 season have been relaxing?”

5. 5Visualisation from http://www.visualisingdata.com/olympics2016
#1 Be curious: Questions fuel data visualisation
“What is the pattern of improvement between genders in
the results of Olympic events measured by time?”

6. 6
#1 Be curious: Questions fuel data visualisation
“What does the rhythm and architecture of
every episode of Seinfeld look like?”

7. 7
#2 Say something: If there’s something to say, say it
Visualisation from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/03/upshot/fewer-women-run-big-companies-than-men-named-john.html?abt=0002&abg=1&_r=0

8. 8
#2 Say something: If there’s something to say, say it
Visualisation by New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/05/22/world/europe/europe-right-wing-austria-hungary.html

9. 9
#3 Make it personal: Participation > interaction
Visualisation by New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/12/20/sunday-review/dialect-quiz-map.html?_r=0

10. 10
#3 Make it personal: Participation > interaction
Visualisation by Matt Stiles http://thedailyviz.com/2016/09/17/how-common-is-your-birthday-dailyviz/

11. 11
#4 Sweat the small stuff: Care about every pixel

12. 12
#4 Sweat the small stuff: Care about every pixel

13. THE BAD
{do less of this stuff}

14. 14
Visualisations from www.cdc.gov/Pcd/Issues/2015/14_0395.html &
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/culturebox/2014/06/death_map_the_most_common_causes_of_death_in_each_state_of_the_union.html
#1 Wake-up: Stop going through the motions

15. 15
#1 Wake-up: Stop going through the motions
Visualisation by YouGov https://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/11/09/public-attitudes-tax-distribution/

16. 16
#1 Wake-up: Stop going through the motions

17. 17
#1 Wake-up: Stop going through the motions

18. #2 Everything has a role: Don’t be a (knee) jerk

19. Google search: “Marketing Infographics”
#2 Everything has a role: Don’t be a (knee) jerk

20. 20
#2 Everything has a role: Don’t be a (knee) jerk
Visualisation by SCMP http://lasombra.blogs.com/la_sombra_del_asno/2013/03/kwc.html
Visualisation from BMJ http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.g7620/infographic

21. BAD PIE CHARTS ARE BAD CHARTS
BAD BAR CHARTS ARE BAD CHARTS
BAD WORD CLOUDS ARE BAD CHARTS
BAD RADAR CHARTS ARE BAD CHARTS
#2 Everything has a role: Don’t be a (knee) jerk

22. 22
#3 Lazy colouring: ‘Above all do no harm’
Image from http://eagereyes.org/basics/rainbow-color-map | Photo from https://twitter.com/espurrkawa/status/829238117848739841

23. 23Visualisation from http://www.vulture.com/2013/04/leading-men-age-but-their-love-interests-dont.html
#3 Lazy colouring: ‘Above all do no harm’

24. 24
1.LOCKED
2.DISARMED
3.ALERT?
4.EXIT
1.ALERT?
2.ARMED
3.DANGER
4.OPEN
5.PULL
#3 Lazy colouring: ‘Above all do no harm’

25. 25
#4 Story ‘badging’: It’s not all storytelling

26. 26
#4 Story ‘badging’: It’s not all storytelling

27. 27
#4 Story ‘badging’: It’s not all storytelling
“For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.”
E. Hemingway

28. 28
#4 Story ‘badging’: It’s not all storytelling

29. THE GREYS
{be more discerning
about this stuff}

30. 30
#1 Interactivity: Fewer hurdles, not more
Cover image from https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dont-Make-Me-Think-Usability/dp/0321344758 | Image from http://i.imgur.com/u7ikyWS.jpg

31. 31
#1 Interactivity: Fewer hurdles, not more
From Archie Tse’s talk https://github.com/archietse/malofiej-2016/blob/master/tse-malofiej-2016-slides.pdf

32. Visualisation by Jonathan Corum http://13pt.com/projects/nyt071211/
Visualisation by Bloomberg http://www.bloomberg.com/infographics/2014-01-16/tracking-super-bowl-ticket-prices.html
#2 Clarity is king: Simplifying is dependent

33. 33Visualisation by FT https://twitter.com/theboysmithy/status/705323516711804928 | Video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNs-ziziPyo
#2 Clarity is king: Simplifying is dependent

34. 34
#3 Audiences are complex: It’s for them, not you
What do you want to tell
them? What do you know
they need to know? If you
were them what would
you find relevant?

35. 35
#3 Audiences are complex: It’s for them, not you

36. 36Visualisation from New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/president
#3 Audiences are complex: It’s for them, not you

37. 37
#3 Audiences are complex: It’s for them, not you
Perceiving Interpreting Comprehending
What does it mean?
Is it good or bad?
Meaningful or insignificant?
Unusual or expected?
What does it show?
Where is big, medium, small?
How do things compare?
What relationships exist?
What does it mean to me?
What are the main messages?
What have I learnt?
Any actions to take?
SUBJECT KNOWLEDGEFORM OF COMMUNICATION AUDIENCE RECEPTIVENESS

38. 38
#4 Reading vs. Feeling: Sometimes, its about the gist
Visualisation by Periscopic http://guns.periscopic.com/

39. 39
#4 Reading vs. Feeling: Sometimes, its about the gist
Visualisation by LA Times Graphics http://graphics.latimes.com/kobe-every-shot-ever/

40. 40
#4 Reading vs. Feeling: Sometimes, its about the gist
Visualisation by Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/2014-state-of-the-union/language-of-sotu/

41. 41
#4 Reading vs. Feeling: Sometimes, its about the gist
Visualisation by New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/07/29/us/elections/trump-clinton-pence-kaine-speeches.html

42. 42
#1 Be curious: Questions fuel data visualisation
#2 Say something: If there’s something to say, say it
#3 Make it personal: Participation > interaction
#4 Sweat the small stuff: Care about every pixel
#1 Wake-up: Stop going through the motions
#2 Everything has a role: Don’t be (knee) jerk
#3 Lazy colouring: ‘Above all do no harm’
#4 Story ‘badging’: It’s not all storytelling
#1 Interactivity: Fewer hurdles, not more
#2 Clarity is king: Simplifying is dependent
#3 Audiences are complex: It’s for them, not you
#4 Reading vs. Feeling: Sometimes, its about the gist
The Good, The Bad and The Greys

43. The Good, The Bad
and The Greys of Data
Visualisation Design
Andy Kirk
www.visualisingdata.com | @visualisingdata