By Julian Gagnon
In the last Hound Bytes article, I discussed elements of data visualization theory that would help students use the best infographics to meet their goal. In this article I will introduce you to the most common data visualization tools.
Based on my research, the most highly recommended tool was Tableau. However, this suggestion comes with a caveat, which is Tableau is probably more than what most students need for data visualizations in assignments. This is, without a doubt, software built for professionals. Brave students can try their Cloud version for free.
Two other programs were spoken highly of by a number of reviews. Google Charts and Microsoft Power BI could be options for enhancing your info graphics for students already familiar with Sheets and Excel. These are professional level tools that require some coding skills, but for those students with previous experience they offer a lot of options that are not available in Sheets or Excel and should streamline the process of creating data visualizations.
For most communication students, Sheets and Excel are the programs you’re most likely to use. I prefer Excel, so my tips will be focused on it instead of Sheets. To begin, Excel offers several basic charts, including bar, column, line, and pie options. More advanced features range from Gantt charts to scatter plots or timelines and heat maps. Remember, your goal of communicating the data should influence which visual option you select.
The process of creating your info graphic in Excel is relatively straightforward. The first step is data entry. Although this part is not the most enjoyable, it is the foundation of your visualization, and tiny errors could ruin your results. Take your time in this step and verify that your data was entered correctly. Color code different sections of your data. Label your data to help position your graphics and title columns to make visualizations easier to interpret in the “chart elements” tab of Excel. Once your data entry is complete, accurate, and organized, you’re ready for the next step: create the chart. Select the sections of data that you want to include, then insert the chart that best conveys your data. Edit the chart to correct inaccuracies and eliminate extraneous information. If necessary, adjust the color to maximize contrast in the results displayed. Provide any context needed for viewers to understand the data in a written section. Finally, remember your goal, tell a story with your data.
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