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Visualized Data Project

Using principles from Edward Tufte's book Visual Explanations, create an informational graphic that makes a point or argument by visualizing a set of quanitative data.

In essence, this graphic will both present the data (with numbers and words), visualize the most relevant relationships among that data (e.g., distances, locations, time, change, etc.), and make a rhetorical argument to a particular audience.

See some examples (if not models):

Software

For this project, we'll combine use of Affinity Photo and the data-visualization function of software like Microsoft Excel or the online service like Chart Builder. Excel is available free to UMD students as part of the Office 360 package for UM Faculty, Staff, and Students.

You will also use Google Sites (available through your UMD Google account) to insert the image onto a web page and publish it. The project will be turned in by publishing that page to the web and sending the page URL to a particular Moodle forum.

Criteria

Conception

  1. the extent to which the project visually interprets, explains, or illustrates a set of data

  2. that the topic is complex or difficult enough genuinely to require an explanation

  3. that the project has a clear purpose and intent, and speaks to the needs or interests of an actual audience: giving directions; revealing causes; showing the relationship of elements for improved understanding, planning, use, or remembering

Analytical Design

  1. the extent it reveals the dynamic and meaningful relations of variables, causes, considerations, or stages which make significant comparisons visually apparent.

  2. the degree to which these comparisons or relations are purposeful, presenting a thoughtful argument, telling a revealing story, or making a substantive point.

  3. the degree to which the graphics help the audience see layers of information: multiple variables or subtle techniques.

  4. the extent that the graphic(s) communicate quantities--that is, include numbers, distances, times, etc. as appropriate

  5. that the project uses Tufte's three techniques of direct labels, encodings and self representing scales (page 13)

  6. whether or not the variables include 20 data points (10 instances of 2 variables, for instance)

  7. how well presented and maintained the sense of time, sequence, or cause-and-effect is

Online Image Format

  1. how well a short introduction effectively explains the contents and purpose of the graphic, as well as suggesting whom this graphic is intended for and why

  2. whether all quantities are repeated in a table for easy reference, that the sources of the data are documented clearly, and that the graphic itself, discreetely, includes your name

  3. that the data is also available in an Excel spreadsheet saved in the same web folder ("visualized"). Be sure to include a link to the spreadsheet in the Moddle forum.

  4. how well the graphic(s) and supporting page(s) function

  5. how consistently the images display and how well optimized they are to be small files that download fast and display clearly and with correct proportions

  6. that the page design is technically stable in a variety of browsers

Commentary

The commentary should be at least one, complete, double-spaced page (250 words).

The commentary should explain:

  • how the data your chose enables you logically to advance an argument, tell a story, or make a point that matters to some audience,
  • what your strategic reasons were for making the choices you did regarding layout, design, and visual technique,
  • in what specific ways did Tufte's book and at least two of the examples of visualized data inform your thinking and process

Please attach a printout of your image (black-and-white is fine) to your commentary.

Resources

Some Sources for Data

Other Resources

Samples Projects