Data Visualization & Infographics

Tree Map, Choropleth Map, and Bubble Chart

Data visualization is my favorite method of technical communication. Done right, it makes data accessible to anyone and is persuasive and fun to use. Each week was dedicated to creating a specific type of chart and implementing genre conventions.

The workflow was: gather and aggregate data, then generate the charts in Excel and export them for use in vector software. This course was my first time using Excel for data aggregation. Once confident that the data and visualization were accurate, the rest of the infographic was designed in Adobe Illustrator.

Initially, it was troubling creating a narrative with just one simple data point. While collecting and aggregating the data, it just didn’t feel like enough information. But once the data was visualized it was way easier to notice trends and interesting points to research. Additionally, peer review saved me from looking quite silly; it was a good lesson on how easy it is to skew and unethically represent data even by accident.

Data Visualization & Infographics

Electric Vehicle Emissions Infographic

This Texas electric grid emissions infographic tested my “storytelling with data” abilities. Data aggregation and chart generation were done in Excel. Then the charts were taken to Adobe Illustrator for informational text and design.

Originally, the intention was to use EVs only as a “vehicle” to draw attention to the different sources that grids use to generate electricity. However, with the requirement of three complete charts, keeping the original topic on point was a struggle. When the second chart was complete, it seemed my point was already made without the use of EVs. A third chart was required, though, so I forged on with the EV idea.

Ultimately, the third chart made the infographic about EVs instead of grids. The third chart is also missing a vital data point that considers emissions from the production of gasoline, currently it only considers tailpipe emissions. This renders one of my EV emissions claims incorrect. In the future, I'll spend more time in the storyboarding phase to help reign in scope.

Data Visualization & Infographics

Solar Photo Voltaic to Hot Water - Lifecycle Diagram

This Lifecycle Diagram follows the energy inputs and waste outputs of the process of solar photovoltaic (SPV) energy journeying to a home to heat water. Solar energy is interesting, so this assignment was an opportunity to learn more about the real impacts of the manufacturing process.

SPV manufacturing and operation was researched in detail for this energy science course. Research was approached differently than in technical communication courses, as the point was to demonstrate knowledge rather than design information.

Assembly of the diagram was done in Google Slides, which was not the optimal program for this, but vector software was not attainable at the time. Aside from fist-fighting Google Slides, the process descriptions along the right were the biggest struggle. The diagram was to fit on a letter size, so there was limited space to write well-crafted paragraphs. In the end, the audience—an energy science professor—was evaluating for content, so extreme conciseness won out to meet his subject matter expectations. This assignment serves as inspiration for me to design a more nonexpert-accessible Lifecycle infographic.