Enhancing Your Data Visualisation Skills with The Data School
Data visualisation is an essential skill for anyone dealing with large datasets. It transforms raw numbers into visual stories, making complex information comprehensible and actionable. Recently, we had the opportunity to host a fascinating webinar delivered by Luke, Stephanie and Amelia from The Data School, which delved into the intricacies of data visualisation.
Stephanie and Amelia are former teachers and have offered their advice and support to any teachers looking for a new role in data, their links are at the bottom of this blog.
Here are the key takeaways from this insightful session:
Understanding The Basics
Before diving into visualisation, it’s crucial to know the story you want to tell. This involves identifying key data points, understanding their relationships, and determining the most effective way to present them visually.
Choosing The Right Tools
While there are numerous options out there, the session highlighted a few that stand out due to their ease of use and powerful features:
- Tableau: Known for its user-friendly interface and robust functionality, Tableau is a favourite among data professionals.
- Power BI: This tool integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products, making it an excellent choice for those already in the Microsoft ecosystem.
- D3.js: For those with a knack for coding, D3.js offers unmatched flexibility in creating custom visualisations.
This webinar focused on exploring Tableau Public created by Salesforce and an American organisation. The reason for this is it is free to use and experiment, you can publish your viz to your profile, view other’s work and join a community. During the webinar, Luke walked us through this process and explained the features and functions.
Best Practices For Effective Visualisation
The Data School emphasised several best practices to ensure your visualisations are impactful:
- Simplicity: Avoid clutter and keep your visuals simple. The goal is to convey information clearly, not to overwhelm the viewer.
- Consistency: Use consistent colour schemes and fonts. This helps in maintaining a professional look and makes your visualisations more intuitive.
- Interactivity: Whenever possible, incorporate interactive elements. This allows users to engage with the data, exploring different facets at their own pace.
It was interesting to hear that Tableau’s default colour setting is orange/blue to take into consideration that approx 4.5% of the world’s population is red/green colourblind.
Common Pitfalls – How To Avoid Them
The webinar also covered common mistakes in data visualisation and how to avoid them:
- Overcomplicating Graphics: Adding too many elements can confuse the audience, stick to what’s essential.
- Ignoring the Audience: Tailor your visualisations to the needs and expectations of your audience, what works for one group may not work for another.
- Lack of Storytelling: Every visualisation should tell a story, ensure that your data has a clear narrative that guides the viewer through the information.
Real-World Applications
Stephanie gave a clear overview of The Data School trainee programme and how they work with a huge variety of sectors to help effective visualisations and how this can lead to better decision-making and insights for businesses.
It was also good to know that you don’t need to have any prior knowledge of Tableau, PowerBI or Alteryx or be able to code to join their programme.
The Data School’s webinar was a treasure trove of knowledge for beginners, by focusing on the fundamentals, choosing the right tools, adhering to best practices, and learning from real-world examples, anyone can enhance their data visualisation skills. Whether you’re looking to present data in a corporate setting or simply make sense of your personal data, these insights are invaluable.
For those interested in diving deeper into the world of data visualisation, I highly recommend checking out The Data School’s resources and website. They provide a solid foundation and advanced techniques that can elevate your data storytelling capabilities.
Feel free to connect with The Data School Team:
Luke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-stoughton-62a00615/
Stephanie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-hampel-060876235/
Amelia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amelia-holland/
