Section outline

  • Course Overview

    The focus of this course is to impart the craft of the data visualisation discipline. You will understand what to think, when to think and how to resolve all the analytical and design decisions involved in any data-driven challenge. You'll improve your creative and analytical decision-making by adopting a design workflow to create data visualisations that are trustworthy, accessible and elegant. 

    Learning Outcomes

    This course will help you to:

    1. Understand the definition of data visualisation as well as the capabilities and activities involved in the design process
    2. Increase the sophistication of your critical thinking by following the 3 principles of good design
    3. Formulate a brief to establish clarity about the context and vision of your data visualisation task
    4. Gather, familiarise and prepare your understanding of the data with which you are working
    5. Use editorial thinking to shape what you are going to say with your data visualisation
    6. Broaden your awareness and the potential application of the variety of data representation techniques
    7. Explore the value and potential application of interactivity and annotation in your data visualisation design
    8. Understand the application of colour and composition decisions in your data visualisation design

    • Course Instructor: Andy Kirk

      • Andy Kirk


        Andy Kirk is a UK-based freelance data visualisation specialist: A design consultant, training provider, author, editor of visualisingdata.com, speaker, lecturer and researcher. He also provides data visualisation services to the Arsenal FC performance team.

        Andy became a freelance data visualisation professional in 2011, focusing primarily on providing consultancy and delivering training. He has delivered over 220 public and private training events across UK, Europe, North America, India, South Africa and Australia. Some of his clients include Spotify, Telefónica, Tesco, Hershey and CERN.

        In July 2016, Andy released his second book entitled “Data Visualisation: A Handbook for Data Driven Design”, published by Sage, offering a practical guide for anyone seeking to create data visualisations in the most effective and efficient way. A second edition was published in July 2019. 

        In 2014-2015, he collaborated on a research project called ‘Seeing Data’, funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council and hosted by the University of Sheffield. This project explored data visualisation literacy amongst the general public to learn about some of the human factors that influence engagement and understanding amongst readers of visualisation works.

        Andy joined the highly-respected Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) as a visiting lecturer in 2013 and taught a module on the Information Visualisation Masters programme through to 2017. He is also a visiting lecturer at Imperial College, London teaching a visualisation module as part of the MSc Business Analytics programme, launched in 2015. He was also a visiting lecturer at Imperial College, London teaching a visualisation module as part of the MSc Business Analytics programme, launched in 2015 and through to 2018. 

        View Bio for Andy Kirk

      • Course Resources

        You will need to access certain files and resources throughout the course to get the most out of the activities. You can find them all here. 

      • Pre-Course Self Assessment

        Before you dive into this course, spend a few moments reflecting on your familiarity with the topic and your current level of skills confidence. 

        You can then re-visit the same questions in our Post-Course Self Assessment and reflect on how the course has helped you develop in confidence and grow your skills.

        • Module One: Introduction and Formulating your Design Brief

          This module covers:

          1. Defining the subject of data visualisation 
          2. The value of following a design workflow and design principles to shape your thinking 
          3. Defining the context of your visualisation and identifying the circumstances that will impact on your process 
          4. Defining the vision of your visualisation, identifying the experience and tone of voice that required

        • Module Two: Working with Data and Establishing your Editorial Thinking

          This module covers:

          1. Establishing the origin, methods and practicalities of obtaining your raw material
          2. Establishing a detailed understanding of its physical properties 
          3. Preparing data for analysis 
          4. Using visualisation techniques to help you understand the qualities it may possess
          5. Determining what is the most important, relevant and interesting content to portray to your audience 
          6. Deconstructing an existing visualisation

        • Module Three: Data Representation and Interactivity

          This module covers:

          1. Understanding and choosing charts
          2. The fundamentals of data encoding
          3. Influencing factors and considerations for data representation
          4. Deploying features of interactivity
          5. Data and presentation adjustments
          6. Influencing factors and considerations for interactivity

        • Module Four: Annotation, Colour and Composition

          This module covers:

          1. Incorporating annotation
          2. Colour and composition
          3. Further references and resources

        • Post-Course Self Assessment

          Now you’ve completed the course, spend a few moments reflecting on where your familiarity with the topics and your confidence skills le vels are at now. 

          Has the course helped you develop new skills and grow your confidence?

          You'll need to complete the Post-Course Self Assessment in order to download your certificate. If you didn't do the Pre-Course Self Assessment before starting the course, please go to the top of the page and reflect on your familiarity with the topic and your level of skills confidence before you started the course.

          • Completion: Certificate

            Completing the course and Post-Course Self Assessment will unlock a course certificate, which you can download here.

            • Give Feedback About This Course

              Did you enjoy the course? Please take two minutes to share your feedback. We use learner feedback in future course updates and developments to provide an excellent learning experience.