Data Visualization: a successful design process

by Andy Kirk

This book will benefit anyone who wants to discover effective, attractive ways to visually analyze and communicate data. With no special knowledge required, it's an inspirational guide that teaches through examples and illustration. A portable, versatile and flexible data visualization design approach that will help you navigate the complex path towards success Explains the many different reasons for creating visualizations and identifies the key parameters which lead to very different design options Thorough explanation of the many visual variables and visualization taxonomy to provide you with a menu of creative options In Detail Do you want to create more attractive charts? Or do you have huge data sets and need to unearth the key insights in a visual manner? Data visualization is the representation and presentation of data, using proven design techniques to bring alive the patterns, stories and key insights that are locked away. "Data Visualization: a Successful Design Process" explores the unique fusion of art and science that is data visualization; a discipline for which instinct alone is insufficient for you to succeed in enabling audiences to discover key trends, insights and discoveries from your data. This book will equip you with the key techniques required to overcome contemporary data visualization challenges. You'll discover a proven design methodology that helps you develop invaluable knowledge and practical capabilities. You'll never again settle for a default Excel chart or resort to 'fancy-looking' graphs. You will be able to work from the starting point of acquiring, preparing and familiarizing with your data, right through to concept design. Choose your 'killer' visual representation to engage and inform your audience. "Data Visualization: a Successful Design Process" will inspire you to relish any visualization project with greater confidence and bullish know-how; turning challenges into exciting design opportunities. What you will learn from this book A comprehensive and contemporary introduction to data-driven visualization design and the most effective approaches to designing impact-maximizing and cognition-amplifying visualizations. Learn about the foundation principles of design and the human visual system Identify the purpose of your visualization and your project's parameters to determine overriding design considerations across your project's execution Develop analytical questions and identify a visual narrative as you immerse yourself in your data, familiarizing with its inherent qualities Apply critical thinking to visualization design and get intimate with your dataset to identify its potential visual characteristics Appreciate the importance of an editorial approach to design and best practice approaches for tackling different data types and problem contexts An overview of the essential visualization tools and resources as well as the essentials of chart design and selection Understand the historical background and modern context of visualization with real project case studies profiling some of the most impressive and inspiring contemporary visualization projects Approach A comprehensive yet quick guide to the best approaches to designing data visualizations, with real examples and illustrative diagrams. Whatever the desired outcome ensure success by following this expert design process.

Genres: Nonfiction, Design, Technical, Technology

206 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Thumbs, Beasts & Thieves is Andy Kirk's first book in a trilogy about Fee and the world of Blessaeb. Making up tall stories for clients who own international brands has been an excellent apprenticeship for him, selling everything from chocolate biscuits and tea, to beer and mayonnaise. His ideas come from the places he visits and the fantastical things that he sees in nature, real life and from his keen interest in history. His head is full of useless information that he hopes will one day go into the melting pot for one of his stories.

Reviews

[Chong Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great primer for a beginner like myself just entering and exploring the world of data visualization, though I can easily see how it can be a great guide for practitioners and experts as well due to the clear methodology and sound reasoning. It has given me a proven framework to plan, consider, design, implement and evaluate data visualizations. I especially appreciate chapter 2 (Setting the Purpose and Identifying Key Factors) and chapter 5's taxonomy of the various data visualization devices and methods. Thank you Mr. Andy Kirk for sharing your knowledge.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is still relevant because it focuses more on processes than the technologies.

[Amr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't know before that there is a discipline specific for data visualization design.. wow!

..and although I'm not a designer, and all what I needed from the book is only chapter 5, I've read the book fully, as I usually enjoy design books and find in it general lessons for life!

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, complete coverage of data visualization techniques with a large collection of charts, graphs, maps and other ways to visually display information.

[Tom Trinter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introductory level book with a lot of good references. However, it stays very surface level.