Duration
2 days
Overview
Data Storytelling is an essential skill for any professional that works with data. Participants will learn how to communicate with numbers and provide a strong narrative to their ideas.
Data Storytelling is a multi-disciplinary course that borrows from the fields of cognitive science, psychology, drama and mathematics
Learning Objectives
- Understand definition and relevance of Data Storytelling to business application of insights
- Condense complicated ideas into simple and easily conveyable narratives
- Ability to empathise with and tailor a data story for the intended audience
- Select appropriate chart types for the type of information being conveyed
- Design the aesthetics of charts & visuals for an intuitive and common interpretation
Technical Requirements
Practical exercises will be done on Microsoft Power BI. Participants will be required to use the software to create and manipulate visualizations – this is not done to test technical ability on the software and even basic users will fare fine on these activities.
Pre-Requirements
None
Outline
Course Outline – Day 1
Introduction to Data Storytelling
- What is Data Storytelling
- Business Impact of Data Storytelling
About this course
- Learning how to Learn
Data Storytelling can be defined in numerous ways – debate the different definitions provided to share a common understanding of what it is and isn’t. Data Storytelling is no longer a nice-to-have skill. Discuss the businessimpact of good data storytelling through several real-world examples. Learn about best practice for learning Data Storytelling in this
course and beyond
Narrative: 30-second Story
- Point, Evidence, Explanation
- Pearls of Insight
- What am I trying to say?
Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. This adage rings true with Data Storytelling. Many choose to start their Data Storytelling process by acquiring data and then experimenting with recommended charts on their software of choice. This can be hit or miss; time- consumingand does not always yield good results.
Learn
how to distil facts and figures to key points thatmatter
before starting the visualization.
Narrative: Consider the Audience
-Selfish Storytellers
Some storytellers are selfish – they only createstories for themselves without thinking about
the perspective of their audience. Tailor your
- Who is my audience?
- What do they want to know?
story for your audience by thinking about who they are and what they want to know. Just like
a suit, a tailor-made one is more likely to fit better compared to one taken off the shelf.
Narrative: Call to Action
- Action words
- Consequence of inaction
- Instilling Urgency
The stage is set, and all necessary preparations have been made. Now is the time to state your ask and make it clear to all involved what exactly you’re asking for having seen your visual.
Course Outline – Day 2
Visual: Choosing a Chart
- Information encoding on charts
- What information am I trying toconvey?
- Data Storyteller’s toolbox
There are many ways to tell the same data story. Understand the repertoire of tools available to telling a data story and know when to use each of these tools. Just as we wouldn’t use pliers to hammer in a nail; we shouldn’t use
a pie chart to visualize change over time.
Visual: Design Aesthetics
- Choosing colours purposefully
- Fonts & element sizes
- Opacity & annotations
Colours and fonts are a huge, wasted opportunity in data storytelling to conveying meaning and sending signals to the audience. Learn how to use colours intentionally to guideinterpretation of visuals and create a common
understanding of charts created
Visual: Best Practice
- Chart Junk
- Visual Hierarchy
- Use of selected charts effectively
Learn how to trim excess material from chartsfor a clean interpretation. These curated elements can then be arranged to create a visual hierarchy that follows the narrative flowdesigned earlier. Finally, learn about best practice for certain charts guided by a
foundation in theory
Core Textbook
Knafflic, C. (2015). Storytelling with Data. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons
Programme scope, delivery arrangements and suitability are confirmed during enquiry.