Resources for interpreting and creating data visualisations (datavis) that we have talked about in the free classes are listed below. I will continue to add to this over time. Please contact me if there’s a resource you know of that I should add.
An interactive guide to five key features to be aware of when interpreting data visualisations
Have a go rating some data visualisations by whether (1) you like them and (2) you learnt something
Brush up your spreadsheet skills: sorting and filtering, doing sums in the spreadsheet, using pivot tables
Having considered what sort of data you have and what your key message is, explore the range of possible chart types.
They are grouped on this poster by the ‘data relationship’ they show.
Click on the image to be taken to a page where you can download a PDF version of this poster.
Helpful, practical guidance for getting started with creating charts, demonstrated using the chart tool Datawrapper.
Explore many examples of the different chart types out there, and some of the tools you can use to create them
Over and above Excel*, some popular tools for creating data visualisations are:
And you can see another 320+ options on Andy Kirk’s Visualising Data resource page
*Some resources to help you get more out of Excel:
stephanieevergreen.com/how-to/
Icon libraries
Case study
National Records of Scotland have built-in up an impressive data visualisation capability in-house. Read how they did it here, and see examples of their work here.
Guidelines
On tables, graphs and infographics, from the Government Statistical Service
On graphic design, from The Wellcome Trust
Sheffield City Council open data
See if Sheffield City Council has an open dataset that’s of interest to you, and explore it visually using the online tools too.
