The PolicyViz Podcast

Nicole Lachenmeier and Darjan Hil’s new book, Visualizing Complexity: Modular Information Design Handbook, focuses on deconstructing data encodings into fundamental elements to create effective visualizations. They take an exciting and hands-on approach to data visualization design for their own work and how they teach design to others. In this week’s episode of the podcast, our conversation highlights Nicole and Darjan’s journey in data design and how they stress the importance of deliberate thinking, manual effort, and critical analysis in their design process.Keywords: information design handbook, the modular information design handbook, information design, data visualization, information visualization, information design handbook with nicole, nicole hickl, design handbook with nicole lachenmeier and darjan hil, nicole lachenmeier and darjan hil, Design Handbook, design handbook, jim hall, junior designer tips, fuel filler, design resources, handbook with nicole lachenmeier, infographics, data design, data viz, infografik, infographics show, mathematics, Al, machine learningSubscribe to PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast for as little as a buck a monthFollow Nicole Lachenmeier and Darjan Hilon Instagram and find their new book her book “Visualizing Complexity: Modular Information Design Handbook" on AmazonFollow me on Instagram,  LinkedIn,  Substack,  Twitter,  Website,  YouTubeEmail: jon@policyviz.com

Nathan Yau’s Flowing Data website was one of the first data visualization websites I discovered in my own data journey. With his new book, Visualize This, now out, I thought it would be a great opportunity to talk with Nathan about his work, his book, and how his own approach to data has evolved over the last several years.Keywords: data visualization storytelling, flowing data, flowing data chart types, visualize this book, nathan yau, nathan yau data, visualize this the flowingdata guide to design visualization and statistics by nathan yau, evolving data visualization, data visualization, crafting the second edition of visualize, edition of visualize this with nathan yau, Visualize This with Nathan Yau, visualize this with nathan yau, o'reilly media, data visualization design, mathematics, Al, machine learningSubscribe to PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast for as little as a buck a monthFollow Nathanon Twitter and find his new book “Visualize This” on AmazonFollow me on Instagram,  LinkedIn,  Substack,  Twitter,  Website,  YouTubeEmail: jon@policyviz.com

Welcome to a solo episode! In this special episode of the podcast, I talk about the recen Tableau Customer conference in San Diego, which drew over 9,000 participants. I reflect on various aspects of the conference, including its diverse sessions that ranged from showcasing new Tableau features and case studies to hands-on workshops and discussions on data visualization beyond Tableau. I was a presenter at TC and presented my work on the Urban Institute’s Do No Harm Project.My review of the conference focuses just on the positives of the conference—the upcoming features in Tableau, such as allowing Tableau Public users to save work their locally, as well as some thoughts on why I—who is not a huge Tableau user—actually attends the conference. I also discuss a few of the sessions I attended, including hands-on sessions and games in Tableau.Topics Discussed Conference Overview: A recap of the Tableau Conference, highlighting its scale with over 9,000 participants and the variety of sessions that catered to both seasoned data analysts and newcomers to the field. Tableau’s New Features. Significant updates to Tableau, including the ability for Tableau Public users to save work locally – a feature that potentially redefines the need for Tableau Desktop licenses. I also talk about the introduction of customizable themes, Google Fonts integration, VIS Extensions, and the leaps in AI and real-time data integration within Tableau. Community and Networking: I reflect on the value of the community that Tableau fosters, especially through networking opportunities that are more crucial than ever in the post-pandemic era.➡️ Check out more links, notes, transcript, and more at the PolicyViz website.

You know Enrico Bertini, right? Writer, teacher, co-host of the Data Stories podcast, Enrico does it all. Now at Northeastern University, I invited Enrico to the show to talk about his research, great Substack newsletter, and for views on the evolving landscape of data visualization on social media. In our discussion, Enrico emphasized the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration at Northeastern University. He has some concerns about the current state of visualization theory and tools and talks about his ideas around “critical data thinking” as a crucial way of thinking about data visualization, highlighting the challenges of data accuracy and interpretation. We also talk about Enrico’s teaching methods to help students improve their data interpretation and data visualization skills. Enrico and I share some of the same feelings about the shifts in social media use in the dataviz community, and how it has led to a loss in diverse intellectual exchanges, underscoring the importance of finding new ways to foster community engagement and creativity, including through writing platforms like Substack and LinkedIn.Keywords: visualizing the future, navigating the shifts in data storytelling with enrico bertini, data storytelling with enrico bertini, data visualization, navigating the shifts, enrico bertini, storytelling with enrico bertini, analytics, business intelligence, data storytelling, Jon Schwabish, jon schwabish, tableau, bar graph, flourish, data analytics, flourish studio, flourish studio tutorial, coping with change, intuitive, annabelle drumm, data visualization for data science, mathematics, Al, machine learningSubscribe to PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast for as little as a buck a monthFollow Enrico on Twitterand find his newsletter on SubstackFollow me on Instagram,  LinkedIn,  Substack,  Twitter,  Website,  YouTubeEmail: jon@policyviz.comSponsor: Whisper TranscribeWhisper Transcribe is an absolute game changer in the world of transcription and AI-generated content creation! Get an accurate transcript from your audio and video files and automatically generate content directly from it.Check out Whisper Transcribe

On this week’s episode of the podcast, I speak to author and teacher Nick Desbarats about his new book, Practical Charts: The Essential Guide to Creating Clear, Compelling Charts for Reports and Presentations.  Our conversation covers choosing appropriate chart types, emphasizing simplicity and clarity, and understanding when to use different formats. Nick aims to challenge dogmatic views on charts, such as the use of pie charts, and stresses the importance of catering to the audience’s familiarity with graph types. Our chat also includes insights on transitioning to online teaching during the pandemic, the distinction between clear graphs and dashboards, and the significance of mastering fundamentals in data visualization for beginners and intermediates. If you’re familiar with Stephen Few’s work, you’re also bound to find some behind-the-scenes gems in this week’s episode.Topics Discussed Choosing the Right Chart. Nick kicks off our conversation with an essential primer on selecting the appropriate chart types for different datasets. His focus is on simplicity and clarity, ensuring that the chosen chart communicates the intended message as effectively as possible. Challenging Chart Dogmas. Prepare to have your preconceptions challenged as Nick takes on the controversial stance on pie charts and other commonly debated graph types. It’s all about breaking the mold and understanding why certain charts work better for specific audiences. Catering to Audience Familiarity. A significant portion of our chat is dedicated to the importance of tailoring chart choices to the audience’s level of comfort and familiarity with different types of graphs. This segment is crucial for anyone looking to maximize the impact of their data presentations.➡️ Check out more links, notes, transcript, and more at the PolicyViz website.Sponsor: Whisper TranscribeWhisper Transcribe is an absolute game changer in the world of transcription and AI-generated content creation! Get an accurate transcript from your audio and video files and automatically generate content directly from it.Check out Whisper Transcribe

In this week’s episode of the PolicyViz Podcast, I interview Rahul Bhargava from Northeastern University on the topic of data physicalization. We discuss the role of community engagement and societal impact in communicating data and including different people and communities. Our conversation touches upon teaching combined majors at Northeastern and expanding data engagement through Rahul’s participatory art methods. We explore the limitations of visual learning and advocate for including diverse voices via data sculptures and embodied experiences.Keywords: data beyond the screen: sculpting community, screen sculpting community voices, zbrush, sculpting community voices with rahul bhargava, jon schwabish, data visualization, tableau, flourish, bar graph, flourish data visualization tool, bar chart race, Rahul Bhargava, rahul bhargava, dr rahul bhargava, fortis, bone marrow, blender sculpting tutorial, screen sculpting community, zbrush sculpting, how to sculpt in blender, community voices, meow wolf denver, sculpting community, mathematics, Al, machine learningSubscribe to PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast for as little as a buck a monthCheck out Rahul’s websiteFollow me on Instagram,  LinkedIn,  Substack,  Twitter,  Website,  YouTubeEmail: jon@policyviz.comSponsor: Ant Design System for FigmaDesign and develop Ant Design projects faster than ever! The powerful UI kit for Figma based on the most popular React UI library - Ant Design. Create and implement well-documented Ant Design apps in no time! Variables, Auto Layout, Variants, Component Properties Dedicated Figma Plugin to copy style settings from Figma to code Hover and click interactions for easy prototyping Switch between light and dark theme Developer-friendly components

Amanda Makulec is the current Executive Director of the Data Visualization Society (DVS), and in this week’s episode of the PolicyViz Podcast, we discuss her journey and the DVS’s evolution as it approaches its fifth anniversary. Amanda shares her experience starting as a volunteer all the way to leading the entire organization. With her second term coming to an end, she emphasizes the importance of term limits and her commitment to ensuring the organization’s sustainability by focusing on operational systems, finances, compliance, and community responsiveness.Keywords: charting new horizons: amanda makulec on leadership, amanda makulec on leadership, data visualization, Community, trakin tech, Human Touch Behind DataViz, tableau, new horizons: amanda makulec, makulec on leadership, leadership community and the human touch, Touch Behind DataViz, business intelligence, data analyst, amanda makulec on leadership community, Amanda Makulec, amanda makulec, data visualization society, public health, women in analytics, women in data, steve Wexler , mathematics, Al, machine learningSubscribe to PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast for as little as a buck a monthFind Amanda and her work on the Data Visualization Society websiteFollow me on Instagram,  LinkedIn,  Substack,  Twitter,  Website,  YouTubeEmail: jon@policyviz.comSponsor: Ant Design System for FigmaDesign and develop Ant Design projects faster than ever! The powerful UI kit for Figma based on the most popular React UI library - Ant Design. Create and implement well-documented Ant Design apps in no time! Variables, Auto Layout, Variants, Component Properties Dedicated Figma Plugin to copy style settings from Figma to code Hover and click interactions for easy prototyping Switch between light and dark theme Developer-friendly components

In this week’s episode, I chat with Dietmar Offenhuber about his new book, Autographic Design and the concept of autographic data analysis. Dietmar stresses the significance of recognizing the material origins of data and the influence of extraneous variables. He advocates for a qualitative approach that pays attention to data traces, which can uncover deeper narratives. In our conversation, we explore what is meant by autographic design and urge a wider lens on data to grasp multifaceted problems thoroughly. Additionally, Dietmar’s work underscores the interplay between qualitative and quantitative methods, emphasizing the role of subtlety and conjecture in data interpretation to bring a more nuanced understanding of the stories behind the numbers.Keywords: dietmar offenhuber, autographic design, design in data analysis with dietmar offenhuber, Design in Data Analysis, design in data analysis, how to become a data analyst, quantitative data analysis, Dietmar Offenhuber, Jon Schwabish, jon schwabish, data visualization, tableau, dataviz, flourish, bar graph, flourish data visualization tool, bar chart race, data analysis with dietmar offenhuber, autographic design in data, sports card investing, investing in sports cards, mathematics, Al, machine learningSubscribe to PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast for as little as a buck a monthVisit Dietmar’s websiteand check out his new book “Autographic Design: The Matter of Data in a Self-Inscribing World”Follow me on Instagram,  LinkedIn,  Substack,  Twitter,  Website,  YouTubeEmail: jon@policyviz.com➡️ Check out more links, notes, transcript, and more at the PolicyViz website.Sponsor: Maryland Institute College of ArtThe Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) application deadlines for summer and fall are April 22 and August 1. Spots are limited, so start your application now and talk to an enrollment coach by filling out our form at online.mica.edu/dav/.

In this week’s episode of the podcast, I welcome author, speaker, and professor Alberto Cairo to the show. We discuss his most recent book, The Art of Insight, and our conversation extends to acquiring reliable data and challenges people across the world face in creating useful and accessible data visualizations. We also discuss the current state of social media as it relates to the data visualization community and Alberto contemplates the future landscape for both the community and data-related conferences in a post-pandemic world.Keywords: dataviz, data visualization for data science, best way to visualize data, alberto cairo data visualization, the art of insight alberto cairo, the art of insight alberto cairo, the art of insight alberto cairo pdf, rovazzi 2046 podcast, alberto cairo unveils the art of insight, data visualization, business intelligence, challenges in data visualization, alberto cairo, Jon Schwabish, jon schwabish, tableau, bar graph, flourish, bar chart race, flourish data visualization tool, mathematics, Al, machine learningSubscribe to PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast for as little as a buck a monthFollow Alberto on Twitterand find his new book The Art of Insight on AmazonFollow me on Instagram,  LinkedIn,  Substack,  Twitter,  Website,  YouTubeEmail: jon@policyviz.comSponsor: Maryland Institute College of ArtThe Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) application deadlines for summer and fall are April 22 and August 1. Spots are limited, so start your application now and talk to an enrollment coach by filling out our form at online.mica.edu/dav/.

In this week’s episode, we delve into the pivotal role of visual clarity in scientific research. Join me and Professor of Clinical Epidemiology Maarten Boers as we discuss his new book, Data Visualization for Biomedical Scientists. If you are at all interested in being a better science communicator—and especially if you are interested in publishing your work in academic journals—this episode is for you! We talk about how Maarten’s book extends beyond the world of biomedical science into good table design, small multiples, and how academic publishing needs to get its act in order.Topics Discussed The Necessity of Clear Experimental Procedures: We highlight the significance of understanding every step within an experiment. Our discussion unpacks the ways in which clear, precise procedures facilitate reproducibility and validation of scientific work. Deciphering Scientific Terminology: Maarten’s book emphasizes the importance of demystifying complex scientific jargon. We examine strategies for breaking down terminology barriers for both specialist and general audiences. Graphical Excellence in Research Communication: We focus on the power of well-titled, labeled, and annotated graphs in conveying research and analysis. Impactful Captions and Visual Storytelling: Captions are more than mere descriptions—they’re a gateway to engaging the reader. We explore how to craft active captions that not only inform but also captivate and retain the reader’s attention. Challenges in Academic Publishing: We confront the practical challenges researchers often encounter with journals, their design (or lack thereof), and other publishing pitfalls. We talk about how to effectively intervene when production staff mishandle figures and how to work within the constraints of journal page limits. Ensuring Accuracy in the Publication Process: Our conversation also touches on the responsibilities of researchers to ensure their findings are presented accurately and effectively, even in the final stages of publication.➡️ Check out more links, notes, transcript, and more at the PolicyViz website.Sponsor: Tube BuddyTubeBuddy is the main tool that I use to manage the backend of my YouTube channel. It has been a huge lifesaver when it comes to time management and properly optimizing my channel. They have tons of free tools you can check out right here!