Data Visualisation

Overview

This unit aims to instruct students on the fundamental principles of information visualisation, and good design practices. It will examine and describe in detail main types of information graphics and visual representations for variety of applications.

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate data visualisations and propose improvements based on an understanding of human perception and cognition and data visualisation design principles
2. Apply a structured design process to create effective visualisations
3. Conceptualise and iterate data visualisation designs using sketching and low fidelity prototyping techniques
4. Create web-based interactive data visualisations using a real-world data set

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Assessment

Content

• Introduction to data visualisation
• Brief history of data visualisation
• Data visualisation design guidelines, graphical integrity
• Visual variables: marks and channels
• Visualisation critique
• Analysis of user tasks in visualisation usage
• Data sets and types
• Interaction: Manipulating view, Filtering
• Arranging Tables, Graphs and Maps
• Colour theory
• Human perception and cognition
• User research
• Introduction to Data Driven Documents (D3)