The Info Graphic Visionary | Stats + Stories Episode 315
Feb 15, 2024
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Data storyteller RJ Andrews, creator of books on information graphics, discusses creating high-stakes solutions with visual metaphors. Topics include exploring the careers of data graphic visionaries, unique infographics, and the evolution of tools in image production.
Good data visualization can elevate news stories and research articles to extraordinary levels of impact.
The book series on information graphic visionaries celebrates and diversifies the contributions of data visualization pioneers.
Deep dives
The Importance of Beautiful Data Visualization Books
RJ Andrews discusses the motivation behind creating a new book series on information graphic visionaries. These books were designed to be visually stunning and worthy of existing in the real world. They aim to elevate data graphics to the same level of praise as iconic artworks or scientific discoveries. The books were born out of a combination of joy and optimism for the increasing importance of data graphics, as well as cynicism and frustration with the traditional publishing industry's lack of quality. The process of creating these books during the COVID-19 pandemic provided a joyful and controlled space for the team.
The Three Spectacular Stories of Data Visualization
Andrews explains the selection process for the three volumes in the book series. The decision to create three books instead of one was driven by the desire to attract attention and make a bigger impact. Each volume focuses on a different data visualization visionary who brings diversity in terms of nationality, profession, and approach. The first volume celebrates American teacher Emma Willard, who used data graphics, particularly maps of history, as a means to educate and sell textbooks. The second volume highlights the data visualization work of Florence Nightingale, a legendary nursing figure. Lastly, the third volume features Etienne-Jules Marey, who published the first visual history catalog of data graphics called the graphic method.
Becoming a Data Storyteller and Advice for Visualizing Data
Andrews reveals his journey to becoming a data storyteller, emphasizing the importance of persistence and learning from competition. He recommends starting with mastering simple charts like bar charts to tell fantastic stories, as most bar charts today do not fully utilize their potential. He advises learners to study the work of historical data visualization pioneers like W.E.B. Du Bois and Florence Nightingale to gain both technical skills and storytelling insights. Additionally, Andrews discusses the balance between content and form in visualizations and the necessity of keeping up with evolving tools and technologies in the field.
Good data visualization can catapult a news story or research article from ho hum to extraordinary. A new book series is exploring the careers of information graphic visionaries. And that's the focus of this episode of Stats+Stories with guest RJ Andrews.
Data storyteller RJ Andrews is a practicing data storyteller and creator of several books on information graphics. He helps organizations solve high-stakes problems by using visual metaphors and information graphics: charts, diagrams, and maps. He recently produced designs for The White House, Google, and MIT. RJ’s recently published Information Graphic Visionaries is a new book series from Visionary Press celebrating spectacular data visualization creators. RJ's first original artwork, an elevation map of California created on an antique typewriter, was recently acquired for Stanford University.
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