Does meeting your organization's goals and mission depend on effectively integrating data visualization into your communications? Does gaining buy-in for the ideas your brand stands for hinge on the quantitative facts behind the story? Do you struggle with turning endless streams of complex data into useful and actionable information?
Learn the fundamentals of data visualization—it's history, how it works and best practices for maximizing its impact on your organization and mission through your communications—in this presentation unveiled at The Grant Managers Network 9th Annual Conference in 2014.
Matt Schwartz, Founder and Director of Strategy at Branding & Interactive Agency, MSDS shares insights on data visualization gained over 14 years of designing branding and user experience for nonprofits and universities, including:
• A Brief History of Dataviz
• The 2 Key Audiences You Need to Connect With
• The 3 Primary Intents & Usages of Data Visualization
• Dataviz Do's & Dont's
• Tying It All Together: A Case Study
You'll walk away with a new perspective into how dataviz can help your brand turn complex dynamics into a powerfully simple story—creating a deeper understanding of the issues, delivering fresh insights, and ultimately generating action.
9. Understanding Your Audience
Lay Audiences
• Limited experience
in related field
• General awareness
of underlying issues
• Basic familiarity
of data visualization
Expert Audiences
Extensive experience
in related field
In-depth understanding
of underlying issues
Advanced facility
with data visualization
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•
•
10. The Three Primary Intents of Dataviz
RESEARCH
COMMUNICATIONSANALYTICS
36. Best Practices
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
Effective data visualizations cater to the audience, so it’s important to understand
where your audiences fall on the lay person / expert spectrum.
SIMPLER IS BETTER
Don’t overcomplicate your visualization; the simpler you keep things, the more
efficient the visualization will be in getting a point across.
CONSISTENCY = LOGIC
A consistent design system of colors, fonts, illustration and charts helps
audiences navigate the visualization and speeds comprehension.
RESPECT THE DATA
Accuracy is critical when translating data into a visual language, but it’s also
important to ensure that underlying meaning isn’t lost in translation.
37. Top-Level Takeaways
• Data Visualization is not new, but it is enjoying a renaissance
• Dataviz helps us research and achieve a deeper understanding of abstract
phenomena that can’t be easily explained
• Visual analytics help us to synthesize data dynamics and understand
complex systems through different lenses
• Dataviz communications help us translate data into more compelling
stories to wider audiences, raising awareness and generating action
• Effective Data Visualization best practices balance the need for visual
interest to engage audiences, while maintaining respect for the data.
38. No More Noise!
Get in Touch
Designing A New Way Forward
Matthew Schwartz
Matthew.Schwartz@ms-ds.com
212-925-6460 ext. 124
On Twitter @msdsbranding
www.ms-ds.com