Information Design: Storytelling with Data in Illustrator

Information Design: Storytelling with Data in Illustrator

“Congratulations! You have reached the end of this course. Thank you for coming this far and getting involved! I hope you feel excited about the possibilities of working with data. During this course, I have shown you how to mix dataviz techniques with visual storytelling principles to create something that is truly unique to the data you're working with, that communicates both cognitively and emotionally. As I said before, dataviz isn't magic. It requires rigorous planning, research, design, failure and success, and showing up the next day to do it all over again! Document what you do, experiment, allow for feedback cycles, and be obsessive about your craft. Take pride in your work but don't take it too seriously. Above all else, have fun exploring. The important thing is to find your process and respect the data. Here are the essential steps you must take to complete the project: The Dataset Choose a question you wish to answer. Focus on a subject that you are truly interested in and use the course as a journey – an opportunity not only to learn about data design but also about the world we live in. No doubt you are a great explorer of the world, and now you have an extra lens to see life through: data!

Once you've chosen the topic, find a reliable dataset. For this course, I recommend looking for an existing dataset. This could be data you're currently working on, or a set you find online. However, with any self-initiated project, it's important to feel excited and motivated by the subject matter. So if you want to dig deep and create your own data, go ahead on your quest – it can even be a self data tracking exploration. The Analysis Prepare and explore the data in Google Sheets and identify key insights. The Sketch Create mood boards and start sketching to transform numbers into a compelling visual lexicon. Prototype the visualization in whichever software suits you (Google Sheets, Data Illustrator, RAWGraphs). The Design Design the visualisation using Adobe Illustrator or any other vector graphics software. The Final Visualisation Craft the final visual display, refining every element and testing how others decode your design. Finally, once you're happy with the piece, create a range of formats for different channels and share your beautiful work with the whole community. I included a wide range of tools and resources in this course. You don't need to use them all, or even any! Refer to them as a source of inspiration for your own approach. But in the end, do what's right for your data and curiosity. The final design can be digital or analogue. Aim for something attainable. As I said before, rather a project finished with pen and paper than a great idea never made! I can't wait to see your work and learn from your infographics. When I can I will stop by the forum where we can discuss your designs. Learning doesn't stop here. Continue to keenly observe the world of data and dataviz around you; lean into empathy, challenge your assumptions, and inspire others. Thank you again and happy visualising!!!”

Partial transcription of the video

“Final Project Thank you so much for taking my course. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed creating it. I hope the course has inspired you to work with data and to use data as creative material. Let's do a bit of a recap. We started by looking at the definition of data, the difference between quantitative and qualitative data, also why and how we visualise it, and an overview of the process. After this introduction, we looked into where we find the data. I looked for a specific dataset and offered some techniques and strategies to find your dataset. You can also compile the data ...”

This transcript is automatically generated, so it may contain mistakes.

Course summary for: Information Design: Storytelling with Data in Illustrator

• Level: Beginner
• 100% positive reviews (115)
• 6913 students
• 5 units
• 18 lessons (3h 33m)
• 10 downloads

• Category

  Design

• Areas

  Graphic Design, Infographics, Information Design, Interactive Design