Hi ,
My teenage Excel charts were crimes against data visualisation.
Picture this...
- 3D exploding pie charts with raindrop gradients;
- Bar charts in neon colours and more flashing lights than a casino.
If Excel had a "make it sparkle" button, I would have clicked it twice.
Thankfully, we all evolve - and none of my early efforts ever made it to the internet.
However, poor data visualisation still kills otherwise solid analyses every day.
That's why I brought data visualisation expert Bill Shander onto the latest Value Boost episode of Value Driven Data Science.
Bill shares the design principles that can transform technical charts into powerful communication tools - even for those without formal design training.
In just
13 minutes, you'll discover:
- Why default visualisation settings in most software undermine effective communication [02:03]
- The research-backed "preattentive response" principle that determines whether your visualisation succeeds or fails [05:17]
- How the counterintuitive "do less" approach creates more impactful data stories [06:18]
- A simple glance test to immediately evaluate and improve any visualisation you create [11:21]
Whether you're presenting to executives or explaining insights to your team, these principles will help your data analyses land with impact
Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or click the link below:
Episode 65: How to Upgrade Your Data Visuals Without Design Training
Talk again soon,
Dr Genevieve Hayes.
