Media & Technology - Data Visualization - Activities

Media & Technology Introduction | Data Visualization Presentations | Data Visualization Activities

Practice brainstorming visualizations and explore data visualization sites and tools (10 to 30+ minutes each)

• • Brainstorm a Data Visualization: Discover different visualization types in the Financial Times Visual Vocabulary Links to an external site., an interactive reference of different charts and graphs and what they are best used for
  • Extend Data Visualization Further: Explore books Links to an external site., video Links to an external site., websites, and blogs
  • Explore software, including Tableau Links to an external site.: Enterprise data visualization software, and RAWGraphs Links to an external site.: Free online visualization software
  • University of Kentucky community: Contact Research Data Services Links to an external site. at UK Libraries

 

Brainstorm a Data Visualization (10 minutes)

Think about your research question(s) or topic.

1. Write down a message that you want your visualization to convey.
2. Use the Financial Times Visual Vocabulary Links to an external site. to brainstorm the charts and graphs that will work best for this message.
3. Make a rough sketch of what you want your visuals to look like. Allow your sketch to be messy.

Come back to this exercise later to continue editing and refining your sketch. Ask for feedback from your friends and colleagues. Ask a librarian if your institution has a visualization specialist. Links to an external site.

 

Extend Data Visualization Further (30+ minutes each)

Library books and videos

• Cairo, Alberto. The Functional Art: An Introduction to Information Graphics and Visualization Links to an external site.. Berkeley, CA: New Riders, 2013.
• Meirelles, Isabel. Design for Information: An Introduction to the Histories, Theories, and Best Practices Behind Effective Information Visualizations Links to an external site.. Beverly, MA: Rockport, 2013.
• Garg, Harish. Data Visualization in Python by Examples Links to an external site.. Video. Packt Publishing Production Company, 2018.
• Kirk, Andy and Michael Gill. In Conversation with Andy Kirk on Visualizing Data Links to an external site.. Video. SAGE Research Publications, 2021.
• Ware, Colin. Information Visualization Perception for Design Links to an external site.. ScienceDirect, 2012.

Blogs and websites

• Flowing Data Links to an external site.
• Visualizing Data Links to an external site. (Andy Kirk)
• Eager Eyes: Visualization and Visual Communication Links to an external site.

For fun

• WTF Viz Links to an external site.
• Junk Charts Links to an external site.
• XKCD Links to an external site.
• Wait But Why Links to an external site.
• Spurious Correlations Links to an external site.

 

Explore Software and Local Resources (10+ minutes each)

• Tableau Links to an external site.: Enterprise data visualization software. 
  University of Kentucky community: Connect with Tableau products through the office of Institutional Research, Analytics, and Decision Support (IRADS) | Tableau Links to an external site.
• RAWGraphs Links to an external site.: Free online visualization software. More examples: Data Visualization - Research Guides at University of Kentucky (uky.edu) Links to an external site.
• University of Kentucky community: Contact Research Data Services Links to an external site. at UK Libraries

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Media & Technology Introduction | Data Visualization Presentations | Data Visualization Activities