Data visualization made efficient, beautiful and memorable (427)

24 October 2018

Dr. Laura Symul

While most of us learnt to read a graphic in high school, some of us feel lost when it comes to creating satisfactory data visualizations for our research and publication objectives. Nowadays, scientists from all fields and disciplines are confronted with various datasets and there is a pressing need for tools and training to better communicate these data visually.

This workshop aims to provide the basics of data visualization theory and the best practices for illustrating data. Through exercises and examples, you will be guided in looking at your data from a new perspective and in rethinking the overall communication of your results.

By dissecting the visual grammar, this workshop will give you the keys to creating your graphics quicker and make them more efficient so that you take less time to explain your data and have more time to discuss your results.

Finally, this workshop is a unique opportunity to exchange with colleagues from different faculties and universities and discover their tools, strategies and best practices.

Contenu de l'atelier

• Introduction
• Visual communication
• About Data
• Data Acquisition
• The Nature and Type of Data
• The Complexity of Data
• Data Model
• Data Analysis & statistics
• Data Visualisation
• Made Efficient…
• Picking the best plot type – which one to choose
• Exploring Data Visually
• Aggregating Data
• Made Beautiful…
• Choosing Colors
• Adapting the Scale
• Understanding Visual Hierarchy
• Learning the basic principles of graphic design
• Made Memorable…
• Combining Data Visualisations
• Staying Consistent
• Seeing and Showing the Big Picture
• Technical considerations and best practices
• Data Visualisation Tools and options
• Exercises & examples

Workshop objectives :

• Discover and learn the basics of data analysis for visualisation purposes
• Deep dive into the principles and theories of data visualisation
• Re-think the overall visual communication of analyses and experiment results
• Improve existing visualisation
• Get a good overview of the tools and techniques available for data visualisation

Methodology

• Based on examples (good/bad practices – comparison before/after) and on exercises.
• Bring your own computer if possible.

Preparation

Two weeks prior to the workshop, each participant is asked to send at least 2 graphics or data visualisations that they use for their research. These visuals need to be described by a legend. In addition, each participant needs to answer a short form describing their motivation and current practices.

Participation

• For PhD students of all faculties and fields who wish to improve their data visualisation skills. Ideally students who have already collected some data.

University of Lausanne

Date : Wednesday 24th October 2018

Schedule: 9.15 to 17.15

Location: University of Lausanne

Trainer:

Laura Symul received her education in engineering before getting her PhD in computational biology at EPFL. Besides her scientific training and working experience as a data scientist, she perfected her illustration skills and developed her freelance activity as a scientific designer. She has been working for scientific journals such as Cellular Microbiology or EMBO Press and for various institutions and organizations in Switzerland and abroad.

Participants are eligible for reimbursement of incurred travel expenses by train between the city of their university and the location of the workshop (half-fare card, 2nd class). A reimbursement form will be supplied to all registered participants for this workshop.

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