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Reenvisioning a University’s Annual Report with Saturation, Annotations, and Icons

Aug 21st, 2018 / Data Visualization, Reports

Last fall I had the honor of keynoting the Southeastern Library Assessment’s Conference in Atlanta. We talked about a few data visualization principles, like showcasing your takeaway message with dark colors and clear text. Then, we worked together to transform the graphs, dashboards, and reports that the conference attendees had submitted ahead of time.

A Two-Hour Turnaround: How to Transform a Text-Heavy Report into a Visual-Lite Report

Aug 7th, 2018 / Data Visualization

Most of my early reports looked exactly like this: a few pages of 11-point font and some bullet points here and there. Except… Mine were way worse! I loved to write 100 pages of 11-point font and bullet points instead of these four summarized pages. If you’re a full-time graphic designer, then you have 40 hours a week to get fancy with covers and other visuals. If not, your time to mess around with reports is limited. I’m going to walk you through five easy steps that you can tackle in just two hours.

How to Objectively Measure Text Readability (and Lower Your Graph’s Reading Level)

Jun 12th, 2018 / Data Visualization, Presentations, Reports

If viewers can’t read your graph, why bother making it? Accessibility is at the top of my priority list. A lot of things go into a data visualization’s readability. In this post I’ll explain how to objectively measure text readability (and lower your graph’s reading level).

Home Visiting Dataviz: Three Steps to Making a Good Graph Great

Apr 26th, 2018 / Dashboards

Whether you’re visiting a web site or a listening to a presentation, you’ve probably thought about data visualization as a helpful way to digest complex information. At its best, “data viz” communicates data simply and efficiently using a combination of graphs, graphics, and other forms of design. So what makes a good graph great?

From Geek to Chic: The Progression of an Infographic

Feb 6th, 2018 / Data Visualization, Reports

Guest blogger Sara Holcombe shares the progression of an infographic from sketch to final product.

Behind the Scenes: TechnoServe’s 2016 Impact Report

Dec 5th, 2017 / Data Visualization, Reports

When TechnoServe’s Kate Scaife Diaz reached out to see if I could consult on their 2016 Impact Report, I jumped at the opportunity. This report went through dozens of drafts, some of which you may see in future posts. There are several things to love about the final product.

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