Data Visualization

Data visualizations have the potential to make the invisible visible, the complex readable, and the abstract concrete. As the amount and use of data around us becomes more and more widespread, the ability to communicate with and through data has become an essential competence. 

The increased use and understanding of data visualizations has also highlighted its shortcomings in a post-factual world. This has led to a critical reassessment of data visualizations resulting in a stronger emphasis on the accountability and transparency as a data communication format. It has also resulted in an exploration of alternative, more emotional forms of visualization.

The course provides both a practical and theoretical foundation for working with data visualizations. As a participant, you will amongst others be introduced to concrete methods for – as well as universal principles of – the visualization of data. At the same time, you will get to work hands-on creating data visualizations and infographics. You should expect to engage in a creative and critical dialogue around the communication with and through data, and to explore new tools and methods and to be actively creating visualizations during the course.

Learning outcomes:

• introduction to a variety of data visualization practices, their ideas and their tools
• theoretical understanding of the grammar and rules of (data) visualizations
• introduction and exercises in visualization software like Gephy, Charticulator, Tableau or P5 / D3.