1.
BASIC DATA VISUALISATION & INFOGRAPHICS WORKSHOP
Hannah Williams hello@hannahwilliams.co.za
2022
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2.
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WHAT IS AN INFOGRAPHIC?
SIMPLE, SHORT SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
USES IMAGES TO CONVEY DATA THAT OTHERWISE
MIGHT BE ABSTRACT - EG. “1 in 88 American children...”
USES SIMPLE LANGUAGE AND NO JARGON
USES STORYTELLING TO GIVE THE TOPIC CONTEXT
AND MAKE IT INTERESTING & RELATABLE

3.
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DATA DRIVEN INFOGRAPHIC
visualises statistics
analyses data to find
interesting trends or outliers
TYPES OF INFOGRAPHIC

4.
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EXPLANATORY INFOGRAPHIC
explains a topic or concept
doesn’t necessarily use data
@lindsaybraman
TYPES OF INFOGRAPHIC

5.
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GUIDE / INSTRUCTIONS
Step-by-step guide on how something
works or how to do something
TYPES OF INFOGRAPHIC

6.
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TIMELINE
illustrates a sequence of events
TYPES OF INFOGRAPHIC

7.
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum in odio ornare, convallis neque euismod, placerat ex. Morbi molestie
libero nec suscipit consequat. Etiam posuere mauris urna, nec sagittis lacus laoreet quis. Sed sit amet leo a mi egestas blandit quis ac eros.
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aliquet. Nulla luctus sed nisl et porttitor. Nunc egestas, velit eget blandit tincidunt, nulla ex lobortis mi, ac congue purus nisl in ligula. Sed
sed tortor dignissim, malesuada tellus placerat, malesuada nulla. Phasellus laoreet sit amet metus ut tempor. Suspendisse efficitur
interdum erat. Curabitur euismod urna quis diam iaculis, in tincidunt turpis lobortis.
Proin molestie porta sollicitudin. Pellentesque nec feugiat tellus, id congue quam. Curabitur sed diam erat. Sed quis mauris sed nunc
dignissim vehicula. Ut dictum varius lacus, vel tempor metus pretium et. Nunc eget malesuada tortor. Suspendisse potenti. In ac sapien dui.
Maecenas lacinia eros at auctor maximus. Integer tristique arcu enim, ut vehicula nulla consectetur ac. Cras non ipsum sit amet leo eleifend
interdum. Sed hendrerit facilisis gravida. Aliquam pellentesque laoreet fringilla. Ut convallis tristique efficitur. Sed molestie ex at pulvinar
gravida. Curabitur porttitor sit amet justo sit amet tincidunt. Morbi egestas massa quis tincidunt tempor. Nam suscipit orci in purus
consequat venenatis. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Vivamus bibendum tempor
purus. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.
Quisque quis venenatis nunc, sed egestas turpis. Phasellus ullamcorper varius ligula auctor malesuada. Praesent sit amet fermentum elit.
Donec sollicitudin mi id justo tristique ullamcorper. Proin nibh odio, lacinia sit amet venenatis in, convallis vel ex. Aenean venenatis elit ac
risus feugiat, finibus gravida nisi volutpat. Fusce nec ligula sit amet libero pulvinar finibus. Sed varius quam libero, facilisis scelerisque
turpis egestas ut. Aliquam erat volutpat.
1
TIPS FOR SUMMARISING INFORMATION CLEARLY AND SIMPLY
READ YOUR SOURCE MATERIAL AND LIST THE MOST IMPORTANT / INTERESTING POINTS AS BRIEFLY AS POSSIBLE

8.
YOU’RE HAVING LUNCH WITH A FRIEND. IMAGINE HOW YOU WOULD EXPLAIN IT TO THEM
AND WRITE IT DOWN AS YOU WOULD SAY IT IF YOU WERE HAVING A FRIENDLY, INFORMAL CHAT WITHOUT TECHNICAL JARGON.
IMAGINE QUESTIONS THEY MIGHT ASK AND ANSWER THEM.
AMPLIFY: MOBILISE: CHANGE
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TIPS FOR SUMMARISING INFORMATION CLEARLY AND SIMPLY
What are you working on
these days?
What is that exactly?
Does this affect me?
wow, that’s crazy, what’s
being done about it?
2

9.
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TIPS FOR SUMMARISING INFORMATION CLEARLY AND SIMPLY
3
WHAT QUESTIONS DOES YOUR INFOGRAPHIC ANSWER? IT’S OFTEN A GOOD IDEA TO
FRAME YOUR CONTENT AS AN ANSWER TO A QUESTION.

10.
TRY AND FRAME THINGS FROM YOUR AUDIENCE’S PERSPECTIVE, NOT YOURS.
AVOID ACRONYMS AND INDUSTRY JARGON.
Don’t tell me about YOUR FERTILISER... ...tell me about MY LAWN.
OUR DRY BULK BLENDED,
ORGANIC FERTILISER has a N-P-K
ratio of 12-4-8 with phosphorus in
the form of P2
O5
and potassium in
the form of K2
O...
This fertiliser will make YOUR
LAWN lush, green and healthy...
VS
AMPLIFY: MOBILISE: CHANGE
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TIPS FOR SUMMARISING INFORMATION CLEARLY AND SIMPLY
4

11.
CONTEXTUALISE INFORMATION WHENEVER POSSIBLE. COMPARISONS CAN MAKE IT A LOT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO RELATE TO
AND UNDERSTAND DATA AND QUANTITIES
https://animagraffs.com/cheetah-natures-speed-machine
AMPLIFY: MOBILISE: CHANGE
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TIPS FOR SUMMARISING INFORMATION CLEARLY AND SIMPLY
5

12.
AMPLIFY: MOBILISE: CHANGE
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TIPS FOR SUMMARISING INFORMATION CLEARLY AND SIMPLY
IT’S OFTEN A GOOD IDEA TO INCLUDE A “CALL TO ACTION”.
It might be to click on a link, share on social media, tweet a
hashtag, sign a petition... etc REMEMBER TO INCLUDE
YOUR DATA SOURCE(S)!
ALWAYS ASK:
CAN I WRITE THIS
IN A SHORTER
WAY?
YOU SHOULD END UP WITH:
1. A LIST OF SHORT PIECES OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION
2. WRITTEN IN EVERYDAY LANGUAGE
3. THAT ANSWERS QUESTIONS / TELLS A STORY IN A LOGICAL ORDER
4. FRAMED FROM YOUR AUDIENCE’S POINT OF VIEW
5. CONTEXTUALISED USING COMPARISON WHERE POSSIBLE
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE...
LOOKING MORE CLOSELY
AT THE DATA WE CAN SEE....
THIS MEANS THAT ARE...
67%
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?
CLICK HERE
Source: UNDP Development Goals

13.
JAMBOARD:
1. A LIST OF 2-5 SHORT PIECES OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION
2. WRITTEN IN EVERYDAY LANGUAGE
3. THAT ANSWERS QUESTIONS / TELLS A STORY IN A LOGICAL ORDER
4. FRAMED FROM YOUR AUDIENCE’S POINT OF VIEW WITH CONTEXT
5. OPTIONAL CALL TO ACTION
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LET’S TRY!
https://jamboard.google.com/d/1lC35dIKhyba31qkxmahwdE0Pkmv5sRWETR2x9lQvGco/edit?usp=sharing
20 MINS

14.
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CREATING A VISUAL HIERACHY
TITLE
HEADING ONE
Heading two
Heading three
Body copy
You can create a visual hierachy
by using things like:
Typeface (font)
Size
Colour
Capitals
Underline
Italics
Background Colour
Shapes
... etc.
WHAT ORDER SHOULD PEOPLE READ THINGS IN?
WHAT INFORMATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT?

15.
MOST OFTEN THE BEST CHOICE.
GOOD TO SHOW DIFFERENCES IN VALUES THAT DON’T ADD UP TO 100%.
COMPARING THINGS
POOR CHOICE FOR SHOWING TIMESERIES DATA, AS THE LINE CHARTS HAVE A
SMOOTHER REPRESENTATION.
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WHAT CHART TYPE TO PICK?
BAR CHART
GRAPE
GRANADILLA
APPLE
BANANA
ORANGE
FAVORITE FRUIT JUICE FLAVORS AMONGST CHILDREN

16.
BEST CHOICE FOR TIME-SERIES DATA AND HIGHLIGHTING TRENDS, WITH
NOT MORE THAN THREE SETS PER CHART.
MAY BE VISUALLY MISLEADING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHOW DATA THAT IS
NOT BASED ON TIME-SERIES.
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WHAT CHART TYPE TO PICK?
LINE CHART
APPLE PRICE CHANGE
CHANGE IN PRICE OF APPLES
2018 - 2022
CHANGE OVER TIME

17.
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GOOD TO SHOW HOW A CERTAIN VARIABLE GROWS/DROPS RELATIVE TO
OTHERS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
CAREFUL WHEN CHOOSING BETWEEN BASIC AND STACKED LAYOUTS, AS THEY
GIVE DIFFERENT IMPRESSIONS.
WHAT CHART TYPE TO PICK?
AREA CHART
FRUIT EATEN
2018 - 2022
COMPARE CHANGE OVER TIME
APPLE
BANANA
ORANGE

18.
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A GREAT CHOICE TO SHOW REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN CERTAIN VARIABLES,
WHEN THERE IS A CLEAR RELATION BETWEEN PLACE AND DATA.
NOT OPTIMAL WHEN THE DIFFERENCES ARE SMALL IN SIZE OR WHEN TIME-
SERIES DATA HAS TO BE DISPLAYED.
WHAT CHART TYPE TO PICK?
MAP
WORLD RELIGION
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

19.
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GOOD FOR SHOWING CONTRAST WHEN TWO OR THREE COMPONENTS OF
SOMETHING DIFFER GREATLY IN SIZE AND ARE PARTS OF A WHOLE.
BAD CHOICE IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN THREE VARIABLES OR IF THEIR
VALUES ARE SIMILAR IN SIZE.
WHAT CHART TYPE TO PICK?
PIE CHART
TOTAL FRUIT EXPORTS
% DATA LIKE ELECTION VOTES
20%
45%
35%
GRAPE
GRANADILLA
APPLE

20.
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GOOD FOR SHOWING CORRELATION OR PATTERN BETWEEN 2 VARIABLES
NOT GOOD IF YOUR VARIABLES ARE NOT RELATED OR FOR VERY LARGE
DATASETS
WHAT CHART TYPE TO PICK?
SCATTER CHART
CORRELATION BETWEEN 2 VARIABLES

21.
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WORKS WELL WITH 2-3 GROUPS OF THINGS BEING COMPARED AND WHEN
DIFFERENCES ARE SIGNIFICANT. BETTER FOR BROAD COMPARISON.
A LINE OR BAR CHART IS A BETTER OPTION WITH MORE THAN THREE GROUPS
AND WHEN DIFFERENCES ARE SMALL OR WHEN THE NUMBERS ARE
IMPORTANT.
WHAT CHART TYPE TO PICK?
PICTO CHART
HOW MANY PEOPLE LIKE BANANAS?
COMPARING GROUPS OF THINGS OR PEOPLE

22.
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EASY-TO-USE TOOLS
canva.com infogram.com
BETTER FOR INFOGRAPHICS THAT AREN’T TOO DATA HEAVY BETTER FOR INFOGRAPHICS THAT USE MORE DATA

23.
ICONS: https://thenounproject.com/
STOCK IMAGES: https://www.pexels.com
https://unsplash.com
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GRAPHICS RESOURCES

24.
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SOME INSPIRATION
https://informationisbeautiful.net

25.
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SOME INSPIRATION
https://www.classy.org/blog-img/wp-content/upl
oads/2015/01/infographic_oxfam-america_lets-t
alk-about-hunger.png
https://www.classy.org/blog-img/wp-content/up
loads/2015/01/infographic_no-kid-hungry_break
fast-changes-lives.jpg
https://www.classy.org/blog-img/wp-content/up
loads/2015/01/infographic_amnesty-internation
al_prisoners-in-isolation.jpg
https://www.classy.org/blog-img/wp-content/up
loads/2015/01/infographic_world-wildlife-fund_
everyting-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-sea-t
urtles.jpg

26.
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THE OUTLIER
https://theoutlier.co.za

27.
AMPLIFY: MOBILISE: CHANGE
DIGITAL COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES FOR NGOS
CANVA
USE AN INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE IF YOU LIKE OR START WITH A BLANK
CANVAS
IF YOU HAVE YOUR BRANDING SETUP, USE YOUR COLOURS ETC
IF YOU DON’T, CHOOSE A COLOUR SCHEME AND STICK TO IT
SEARCH FOR “CHARTS” IN ELEMENTS TO ADD A CHART OR GRAPH
YOU CAN TRY USING BACKGROUNDS, IMAGES, LINES AND SHAPES...ETC
https://www.canva.com

28.
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INFOGRAM
USE AN INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE IF YOU LIKE OR START WITH A BLANK
CANVAS
CHOOSE A COLOUR SCHEME AND STICK TO IT
ADD CHARTS AND OTHER ELEMENTS FROM THE MENU ON THE LEFT
YOU CAN TRY USING BACKGROUNDS, IMAGES, LINES AND SHAPES...ETC
https://infogram.com

29.
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LET’S TRY!

30.
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ALTERNATIVE ANALOGUE METHODS
Jose Duarte
The Economist

31.
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THANK YOU!