The PolicyViz Podcast The PolicyViz Podcast

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 [https://amzn.to/3UporIv].  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. [https://policyviz.com/podcast/episode-244-maureen-stone/]

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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.

Topics Discussed

* Inclusivity in Data-Driven Society. The episode opens with a discussion on the necessity of inclusivity in our increasingly data-centric world. Rahul shares his insights into how data physicalization can bridge the gap between complex data and diverse community members.
* Teaching Combined Majors at Northeastern. Rahul gives us a glimpse into Northeastern's approach to education, emphasizing the value of combined majors that integrate data science with other disciplines.
* Participatory Art Methods in Data Engagement. Rahul describes his use of art tomake data more accessible and engaging. We talk about the potential of data sculptures and embodied experiences to include those who may not be reached through traditional visual data presentations.
* Culturally Sensitive Approaches to Data. We discuss the importance ofunderstanding and respecting cultural differences, particularly when working with youth from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
* Community Empowerment through Data. Rahul shares his strategies for adapting data collection and dissemination to empower communities, and his use of everyday materials like craft items to make data physicalization more inclusive.
* Data Literacy and Design Principles. Finally, we discuss on how to build data literacy by employing engaging and thoughtful design principles.

➡️ Check out more links, notes, transcript, and more at the PolicyViz website. [https://policyviz.com/podcast/episode-244-maureen-stone/]

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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.

Topics Discussed

* Leadership and Evolution of DVS. Amanda discusses her path from volunteering to leading DVS and reflects on the importance of term limits and her dedication to the sustainability of the society.
* Community Building and Knowledge Sharing. Amanda discusses DVS's role as a hub for individuals from different tech backgrounds to share insights and best practices and how DVS seeks to create more meaningful community spaces.
* Data Literacy and Supportive Initiatives. We discuss DVS's commitment to data literacy and providing a nurturing environment through initiatives like the Outlier conference and the Nightingale magazine.
* Navigating Social Media and Communication Platforms. As I've talked about with other recent guests, we talk about decreased engagement on Twitter/X and limited real-time interaction on LinkedIn. We discuss the balance between online space fragmentation, privacy, and psychological safety, as well as DVS's use of Slack and potential migration to other platforms such as Discord.
* Financial Challenges and Operational Sustainability. We talk about the financial constraints of DVS, including the high costs of Slack, and the importance of allocating the budget wisely to support key community and operations management roles.

➡️ Check out more links, notes, transcript, and more at the PolicyViz website. [https://policyviz.com/podcast/episode-244-maureen-stone/]

Sponsor: Ant Design System for Figma

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* Variables, Auto Layout, Variants, Component Properties
* Dedicated Figma Plugin [https://www.antforfigma.com/theme-buddy-figma-plugin] to copy style settings from Figma to code
* Hover and click interactions for easy prototyping
* Switch between light and dark theme
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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.

Topics Discussed

* The Material Context of Data Collection. We dive into why understanding where and how data is collected is paramount for accurate analysis. We talk through a number of examples in Dietmar's work and book.
* The Impact of the Third Variable. We explore how the introduction of a third variable can dramatically shift the interpretation of data and data visualizations. We discuss the importance of being vigilant for these variables to avoid erroneous assumptions.
* Unintentional Digital Traces. Our conversation uncovers the value of unintentional digital traces that we leave behind and how they can be a gold mine for analysts.
* Qualitative Meets Quantitative. We discuss the need for blending qualitative insights with quantitative research and how they can complement each other to provide a fuller picture of analysis.
* The Speculative Nature of Data Analysis. We address the inherently speculative aspect of data analysis, highlighting the fact that, despite the numbers, much of what analysts do involves informed guesswork.
* A Call for Collaboration. The discussion opens the floor for collaborative efforts, emphasizing that the best results often come from pooling knowledge and expertise across different fields.

➡️ Check out more links, notes, transcript, and more at the PolicyViz website. [https://policyviz.com/podcast/episode-244-maureen-stone/]

Sponsor: Maryland Institute College of Art

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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 [https://amzn.to/3P2DdTo], 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.

Topics Discussed

* The Quest for Reliable Data: Alberto and I discuss the critical importance of acquiring accurate and reliable data. We talk about the the complexities involved when dealing with cross-country datasets and how cultural and systemic differences can impact data collection and representation.
* The Shifting Platforms of DataViz Communities: Once a thriving hub for sharing insights and innovations, Twitter's popularity in the dataviz community is on the decline. We explore the implications of this shift and what platforms are emerging as new gathering spots for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
* The Post-Pandemic Outlook: With the world slowly adjusting to the new normal, we consider the future of data-related conferences and community gatherings. How will these events evolve, and what can we expect from virtual and in-person interactions in the coming years?
* Spotlight on Alberto: No conversation about data visualization would be complete without mentioning Alberto's influential work in the field. We talk about his contributions, including his most recent book, The Art of Insight, and how his teachings have shaped the way we approach data storytelling.

➡️ Check out more links, notes, transcript, and more at the PolicyViz website. [https://policyviz.com/podcast/episode-244-maureen-stone/]

Sponsor: Maryland Institute College of Art

The 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/ [https://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. [https://policyviz.com/podcast/episode-244-maureen-stone/]

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