Back on track with new projects!
Hello!
You are reading (Dataviz) Design Matters - a newsletter series made with 💕 by T. from Data Rocks.
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We're half-way through the year!
Can you believe it? It is interesting how many ideas flourish when we're off work. Apparently, it is a thing.
Taking June off got me thinking about what I want to achieve until the end of 2023, and I may have had an idea or two, which you may see soon.
I've been phasing out my Twitter presence these past few months, and given the latest developments, I'll continue to do so. Most of my main upcoming posts will be asking you all to follow me anywhere else you like.
Here's a list of all places where we can keep in touch, elsewhere.
Also, this newsletter will become the place I share my most relevant content with you from now on. More on that below.
The Data Viz Bookshelf is back!
- I've just published the first review back from my month away. Starting off July with Storytelling with Data - a classic for anyone interested in dataviz. It is accessible at all levels of skill and technology affinity. Go check it out on the blog and let me know what you think!
Dashboard design is complex, but it doesn't have to be complicated
Ahhh, dashboards. It is what I have built the most for clients, but it evokes lots of interesting reactions. They are complex beasts in that the skills needed to create one from scratch involve not only data visualisation but technology stack knowledge, people skills, design skills, and communication skills. Often, to make them truly meaningful, a partnership with a business expert is also required.
Make no mistake: whenever you look at a few big numbers with squiggly trendlines on a screen, you can bet hundreds of hours and tears went into creating it - and lots more goes into maintaining it working, just for your eyes.
There are many moving parts that must come together and multiple decision points that can make or break your dashboard.
One of the most overlooked and misunderstood aspects of building dashboards is the way we can incorporate Design into the process and final product.
You've probably read me preaching that design is not the same as "making things pretty". It couldn't be further from that. Design is about function - and looking professional, polished and pleasing is part of good functionality.
I absolutely love this website as a display of how much the way things look can make or break an interface. Give it a try, and let me know how many times you felt hopeless and frustrated at the way things look.
Design matters
After lots of thinking, I decided to start a newsletter series, which I'm calling Design Matters. I'll share a bit of my process in designing a dashboard, from its conceptual stage, requirements gathering, and frameworks I use to prototype, develop, test and deliver dashboards that delight.
It will be sent out every Thursday.
In the meantime, I'd love to hear more about what your main design struggles are when it comes to creating compelling dashboards that clients and stakeholders enjoy using. Just reply to this e-mail.
Other interesting bits and bobs:
- The team at The Washington Post created this awesome introduction to typography. It is a really good run-through the main concepts and why typographic choices matter.
- This article explores why writing helps you design better.
- And last but not least: if you want to see the human behind the logo making wild predictions about how AI may impact dataviz in the future, I joined Elijah Meeks, Francisco Estivallet and Julianna Langston to discuss it at this Fireside Chat with the Data Visualization Society.
If you have a cool project involving data visualisation and would like to work with me, reach out either through this email or my website and let's chat!
If you'd like to keep the conversation going, just reply to this e-mail. I'd love to hear your thoughts!
If you like what I share and would like to support my caffeinated habits, now you can buy me a coffee!
See you again next week!
-- T.
If you’d like to keep the conversation going, just reply to this e-mail.
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