Creating Great Charts, Maps, and Diagrams
April 2012
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After the session, I’ll send out:• The slides • A link to the recording• Any links we’ve discussed
Call into the audio line at (712) 432-1001, access code 469085792#Google Voice does not seem to work with this number, but Skype does.
Introductions
Laura QuinnExecutive Director, Idealware
Kyle Andrei
Introductions: www.idealware.org
Resources and Services From Idealware
Online seminars and courses
In-person trainingConsulting to networks
Idealware is a 501(c)3 nonprofit!
Close to 300 existing free articles and reports
Commissioned articles and reports
The Field Guide to Software for Nonprofits
What We’ll Cover
• Six principles of data graphics• What kind of information do you have?
• Numeric• Location• Conceptual
• Bringing it all together
Call into the audio line at (712) 432-1001, access code 469085792#Google Voice does not seem to work with this number, but Skype does.
Six Principles of Good Information Graphics
1. Define Your Point
Pretty much every chart has a point of view
2. Accurately Represent Your Data
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In particular, treat your axes with respect
3. Tailor it to Your Audience
From Princeton Election Consortium
4. The Simpler the Better
Both graphs contain the same info. But the second is far easier to read.
5. Ensure it Speaks for Itself
6. Remove Everything You Can% US Adults Who Report Their Health as "Fair" or "Poor
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Income Below Poverty Line
Income 100- 200% of PovertyLine
Income More than 200% AbovePoverty Line
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What Kind of Information Do You Have?
Numerical
Quantitative Data
Bar Charts Line Charts
Plotted Chart Pie Chart
Bar Charts: An Example
From Children Now’s “2009 California Report Card,” showing the relationship between race and preschool enrollment
Bubble Charts: An Example
The Sunlight Foundation’s interactive Many Eyes chart showing the relationship between political party funding and the party in power
Tools for Charting
Microsoft Excel Part of the Microsoft Office Suite. $18 per license for nonprofits on TechSoup.
Installed on Windows or Mac.
% US Adults Who Report Their Health as "Fair" or "Poor"
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Income 100-200% ofPoverty Line
Income Morethan 200%Above PovertyLine
DeltaGraph
$129 per license
Installed, Mac or Windows
Google Docs Spreadsheet
Free
Online at docs.google.com
Many Eyes
Also consider:Google DocsSwivel Business
Free
Online at manyeyes.alphaworks.ibm.com
What Kind of Information Do You Have?
Location Data
Pins on a Map
Yadkin Riverkeeper’s Google map showing what they consider to be “pollution sites” created by Alcoa, a large corporate producer of aluminum.
Consider Google Maps or Google Earth
Thematic Mapping
Default map format – copyright Microsoft
Consider Microsoft MapPoint or Golden MapViewer
What Kind of Information Do You Have?
Conceptual
Flow Chart/Decision Tree
Hierarchical Chart
Process
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
Relationships
Mind Map
A Graphic Guide to Facebook PortraitsBY DOOGIE HORNERhttp://www.fastcompany.com/1692957/facebook-profile-picture-flowchart
Tools for Conceptual Visualizations
Visio
Omnigraph
Gliffy
PowerPoint
FreeMind
Also consider Mindmeister or PersonalBrain
Bringing them Together
Infographics
Princeton Universitywww.princeton.edu/~ina/infographics
More Infographics
By M+R Strategies, From NTEN Change Journal http://www.nten.org/ntenchange
Dashboards
http://dashboard.imamuseum.org/
Other Resources
• Visual.ly• Periodic Table of Visualization Methods• Infosthetics.com
Questions?
Upcoming Idealware Seminars7/19: Choosing a Low Cost Donor Management System
7/21: Getting Started with Mobile Outreach
7/28: Telling Your Story with Blogs, Photos and Videos
8/11: Measuring Your Social Media Strategy
More at www.idealware.org/online-training
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