Visualization and Design: Fundamentals
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CUNY Graduate Center | Summer 2021
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6/1 – 6/24 | 6:30 to 8:30
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6/1, 6/8, 6/15, 6/22, 6/24 SYNCHRONOUS
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Michelle McSweeney (mmcsweeney@gc.cuny.edu)
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Office Hours By Appointment on Thursdays (REQUIRED – sign up here)
Description
As employers in every sector continue to search for candidates that can turn their data into actionable information, this course is designed to demystify data analysis by approaching it visually. Using Tableau Software, we will build a series of interactive visualizations that combine data and logic with storytelling and design. We will dive into cleaning and structuring unruly data sets, identifying which chart types work best for different types of data, and unpacking the tactics behind effective visual communication. With an eye towards critical evaluation of both data and method, projects and discussion will be geared towards humanities and social science research. Regardless of your academic concentration, you will walk away from this class with a portfolio of dynamic dashboards and a new interdisciplinary skill set ready to leverage in your academic and professional work.
Objectives
By the end of this class, you will be able to:
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Build interactive data visualization dashboards that answer a clear and purposeful research question
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Choose which chart type works best for different types of data
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Iterate with fluidity in Tableau Software leveraging visualization, aesthetic, and user interface best practices
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Structure thoughtful critiques and communicate technical questions and solutions
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Leverage collaborative tools, including Tableau Public, Github, and repositories of public data sets
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Contribute to the broader conversation about digital practices in academic research
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Critically read a wide range of chart types with an eye for accuracy, audience, and effectiveness
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Identify potential weaknesses in the collection methods and structure of underlying data sets
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Locate the original source of a visualization and its data
Assignments
During this course, you will complete four assignments: 2 guided projects and a final portfolio accompanied by a white paper. We expect that you will turn in each project before you feel fully ready to do so. You will have the opportunity to submit revisions of the first two blog projects until you’re satisfied with the outcome.
Blog Post 1
20% Final Grade | Guidelines
One visualization built with New York City’s 311 data
Blog Post 2
20% Final Grade | Guidelines
One visualization with a quantified self data set you’ve created
Final Portfolio
30% Final Grade | Guidelines
A series of three visualizations answering an independent research question using a data set of your choice
White Paper
10% Final Grade | Guidelines
A 1,500-4,000 word final reflection on data, visualization, and iteration
In-Class Reflections
10% Final Grade | Participation in the in-class reflections and critiques
Tableau Tutorials
10% Final Grade | Completion of Tableau tutorials
Schedule
Because this is a Summer Session course, we will cover a lot of ground in just four weeks. The synchronous pin ups and 1:1 meetings and the asynchronous tutorials are essential for understanding the material and doing well in the course. The seminar focuses on a the theoretical underpinnings of data visualization. The tutorials will cover essential tools and techniques in Tableau. For the summer online format, both components are delivered via pre-recorded videos. By the end of this course, you will have developed a deep understanding of the context around data visualization and how to effectively and ethically engage in visual communication.
Week 1 | Introduction to Tableau and Data Visualization
Meetings:
- June 1, 6:30-8:30pm Synchronous Zoom Introduction (Suggested: Friendly, 2007 A Brief History of Data Visualization)
- June 3, 6:30-8:30pm 15 minute 1:1 via Zoom to discuss project
Seminar
Lecture Videos |
Reading |
Yau 2013 Chapter 1 Data Points |
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Principles of Data Visualization Video 1 (Visualization Types Video 1) Video 2 (Visualization Types Video 2) |
Yau 2013, Chapter 3 of Data Points Nussbaumer Knaflic 2015. Chapter 2, Storytelling With Data: Choosing and Effective Visual |
Lab Videos
Assignments
Date |
Time |
Deadline |
Platform |
June 1 |
8:30 PM |
Sign up for Tableau & Commons |
NA |
June 2 |
8:30 PM |
Cleaning data in Tableau Prep, First Dashboard |
Tableau Public & Email |
June 3 |
6:30 PM |
Submit Proposal for Blog Post 1 |
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June 8 |
6:30 PM |
Publish Blog Post 1 |
Tableau Public & Commons |
Week 2 | Data Integrity and Data Structures
- June 8, 6:30-8:30pm Synchronous Zoom Pin Up Project 1 (Suggested: Viegas & Wattenberg 2015 Design and Redesign in Data Visualization )
- June 10, 6:30-8:30pm 15 minute 1:1 via Zoom to discuss project
Lecture Videos
Lecture Videos |
Reading |
Quantified Self Video 1 Quantified Self Video 2 |
Giorgia Lupi Dear Data TED Talk Gitelman, 2013 “Raw Data” Is An Oxymoron Optional: Tufte 1997 The Decision to Launch the Space Shuttle Challenger in Visual and Statistical Thinking |
Data & Data Manipulation **** |
Drucker 2015 Humanities Approach to Graphical Design Posner, 2016 What’s Next: The Radical, Unrealized Potential of Digital Humanities Optional: Lupi, 2017. Data Humanism |
Lab Videos
Session |
Tutorial |
3 |
Data Structure, Data Joins |
4 |
Calculated Fields, Dashboard Design |
Assignments
Date |
Time |
Deadline |
Platform |
June 9 |
8:30 PM |
Data Joins |
Tableau Public & Email |
June 10 |
8:30 PM |
Calculated Fields |
Tableau Public & Email |
June 10 |
6:30 PM |
Proposal for Blog Post 2 |
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June 15 |
6:30 PM |
Publish Blog Post 2 |
Tableau Public & Commons |
Week 3 | Advanced Chart Types
Meetings:
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June 15, 6:30-8:30pm Synchronous Zoom Pin Up Project 2
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June 17, 6:30-8:30pm 15 minute 1:1 via Zoom to discuss project
Seminar
Seminar |
Reading |
Maps |
Solnit, 2016 Nonstop Metropolis (2 pieces in Zotero Library) |
Text |
Drucker 2015 Humanities Approach to Graphical Design Posner, 2016 What’s Next: The Radical, Unrealized Potential of Digital Humanities Optional: Lupi, 2017. Data Humanism |
Online
Session |
Tutorial |
5 |
Thematic Maps & Tree Maps |
6 |
Dispersion Plots & Word Clouds |
Assignments
Date |
Time |
Deadline |
Platform |
June 16 |
8:30 PM |
Thematic Maps & Tree Maps |
Tableau Public & Email |
June 16 |
8:30 PM |
Dispersion Plots & Word Clouds |
Tableau Public & Email |
June 17 |
6:30 PM |
Proposal for Final Project |
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June 22 |
6:30 PM |
Final Project Draft Pin Up |
Tableau Public & Commons |
Week 4 | Communicating with Data
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June 22, 6:30-8:30pm Project 3 Draft Small Group Reviews
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June 24, 6:30-8:30pm Synchronous Zoom Pin Up Project 3/Final
Seminar
Seminar |
Reading |
Grounded Visualization |
Knigge & Cope 2006 Grounded visualization: integrating the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data through grounded theory and visualization |
Storytelling |
Suggested Andrew Stanton TED Talk: The Clues to a Great Story |
Online
Session |
Tutorial |
7 |
Bullet Graph, Bump Chart, Donut Chart, Slope Chart (pick one) |
Assignments
Date |
Time |
Description |
Platform |
June 22 |
8:30 PM |
Advanced Visual |
Tableau Public & Email |
June 23 |
8:30 PM |
Dispersion Plots & Word Clouds |
Tableau Public & Email |
June 24 |
6:30 PM |
Final Project |
Tableau Public & Commons |
Week 5 | After Semester
Assignments
Date |
Time |
Description |
Platform |
July 1 |
6:00 PM |
White Paper |
Commons |
Disability Services | Health & Wellness | Library | Ombuds | Policies & Procedures | Professional Development