Introduction to Data Visualisation and Infographic Design

Data visualisations and infographics provide a great way of communicating insight – in reports, on social media, in presentations – and in the field of social research there’s no shortage of material to work with, qualitative as well as quantitative. However there’s little guidance out there on how to get started and how to get the best out of their use.

At the start of the process the range of possible outcomes can be a daunting prospect. Should you be going for a diagram, a dashboard, an interactive online tool? During this workshop we will consider all the factors that have an impact on the infographic you end up with – insight, audience, platform, resources – and look at the steps you need to go through to get to a good result.

While we will discuss the tools available for creating data visualisations and infographics – and have a go on laptops* in the afternoon – the emphasis of the day will be on understanding the principles that underpin a successful piece of work rather than mastering the tools to create it.

The day will involve both theory, explained with illustrated with examples, as well as exercises so attendees can explore ideas and learn for themselves.

If you don’t have, or can’t bring, a laptop that’s not a problem: you can join someone else to work in a small group just as effectively.

Learning outcomes

• How, why and when to use an infographics
• Defining a clear story
• Recognising suitable material to work with
• Optimising infographics for different media and audiences
• Understanding the role of design
• Confidence to have a go

Topics

• What are infographics?
• Infographics in social research
• The story
• What to visualise
• Storytelling techniques
• Introduction to graphic design
• A good brief
• The process
• Tools for creating infographics
• Common pitfalls

Who will benefit

Anyone who has an interest in creating or commissioning infographics.

Course tutor

Lulu Pinney is a freelance infographic designer and trainer, now studying for a Masters in Social Research at the University of Sheffield.
She studied maths and science at university but remained curious about visual design and communication. This led her to the multi-disciplinary design firm Pentagram where she learnt the craft of graphic design. From there she moved into visual journalism, first designing infographics for print at Haymarket Business Publishing, and then online for the BBC News website.
She now spends her time encouraging the use of infographics beyond journalism, and sometimes writing about this on her blog Telling Information.

www.the-sra.org.uk/training