Andy Cotgreave, Senior Data Evangelist at Salesforce and co-author of The Big Book of Dashboards, shares insights on the critical role of data visualization in enhancing data literacy. He emphasizes how well-designed visualizations act as gateways to deeper data skills. Topics include best practices for storytelling through data, the importance of user experience in dashboard design, and emerging trends in AI and accessibility. Andy also advocates for engaging with datasets to promote a culture of data-driven decision-making.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Data Visualization Importance
Data visualization is crucial for quick data comprehension, unlike spreadsheets.
Learn data visualization to enhance understanding and identify trends faster.
question_answer ANECDOTE
COVID-19 Data Visualization
COVID-19 data exemplified the importance of visualizing complex information.
Charts effectively communicated critical data during the pandemic, unlike tables.
insights INSIGHT
Design Thinking in Data Visualization
Design thinking enhances data visualization by making the experience pleasurable for the user.
Consider visceral, behavioral, and reflective responses when designing visualizations.
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In this book, Don Norman discusses how design should be centered around the user's needs, emphasizing the importance of visibility, natural relationships between controls and functions, and the intelligent use of constraints. He argues that poor design, rather than user ineptness, is often the cause of frustration with everyday objects. The book covers various aspects of design, including affordances, signifiers, and the seven stages of action, providing a comprehensive guide to creating user-friendly products.
Steal like an artist
10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
Austin Kleon
This book, which began as a speech given by Austin Kleon to college students, expands into a manifesto for creativity. It outlines ten transformative principles such as 'Steal like an artist' (honoring, studying, and transforming ideas), 'Don’t wait until you know who you are to start making things,' and 'Use your hands' (emphasizing physical work). Kleon argues that creativity is not original but builds on what came before, and he provides practical tips and inspiring concepts for artists, writers, musicians, and anyone generating creative work[2][3][4].
Factfulness
Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think
Hans Rosling
Ola Rosling
Anna Rosling Rönnlund
In 'Factfulness,' Hans Rosling, along with his son Ola and daughter-in-law Anna, addresses why people systematically get answers wrong about global trends. They identify ten instincts that distort our perspective, such as dividing the world into 'us' and 'them,' the influence of fear-driven media, and the misconception that most things are getting worse. The book argues that, despite its imperfections, the world is in a better state than many believe and provides a framework to see progress clearly by focusing on facts rather than biases.
The Big Book of Dashboards
Visualizing Your Data Using Real-World Business Scenarios
Andy Cotgreave
Jeffrey Shaffer
Steve Wexler
The Big Book of Dashboards provides a detailed approach to creating business dashboards by offering practical examples across multiple industries and platforms. It covers essential data visualization principles and critiques numerous dashboard designs to help readers understand what makes a dashboard effective. The book is structured to provide both foundational knowledge and practical advice for dashboard development.
Understanding and interpreting data visualizations are one of the most important aspects of data literacy. When done well, data visualization ensures that stakeholders can quickly take away critical insights from data. Moreover, data visualization is often the best place to start when increasing organizational data literacy, as it’s often titled the “gateway drug” to more advanced data skills.
Andy Cotgreave, Senior Data Evangelist at Tableau Software and co-author of The Big Book of Dashboards, joins the show to break down data visualization and storytelling, drawing from his 15-year career in the data space. Andy has spoken for events like SXSW, Visualized, and Tableau’s conferences and has inspired thousands of people to develop their data skills.
In this episode, we discuss why data visualization skills are so essential, how data visualization increases organizational data literacy, the best practices for visual storytelling, and much more.
This episode of DataFramed is a part of DataCamp’s Data Literacy Month, where we raise awareness about Data Literacy throughout September through webinars, workshops, and resources featuring thought leaders and subject matter experts that can help you build your data literacy, as well as your organization’s. For more information, visit: https://www.datacamp.com/data-literacy-month/for-teams
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