workers-collab

How to Turn Data Into Compelling Visual Presentations

Visually and clearly present data and the message it represents.

Communicating data and the story of what that data means has become increasingly important in recent years. As attention spans decrease and the amounts of quantitative information increase, it is crucial to be able to visualize your data for your audiences in the most clear and effective ways possible. A chart that takes 10 seconds to understand, compared to one that takes only 2 seconds, could mean the difference between a sale and no sale. Your data is only as powerful as your visual presentation of it. In this course, you will learn the fundamentals and best practices of data visualization techniques, as well as hands-on approaches to using Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint to present your data in a variety of formats. You will complete multiple exercises and create various types of visualizations and charts throughout the course. You will also work individually and in groups to analyze, redesign, and improve poorly designed charts that are provided.

Seminar Number: 02012

5
(171 reviews)
  • Live Online
  • At Your Company Location

Course Scheduling & Pricing

Who Should Attend

Those with a foundational understanding of Microsoft Excel® and PowerPoint®, who work regularly with data and wish to design basic and more advanced charts, graphs, and tables

  •   Live Online2 Day(s)
    1.2 CEU, 12 CLP, 14 CPE
 

Communicating data and the story of what that data means has become increasingly important in recent years. As attention spans decrease and the amounts of quantitative information increase, it is crucial to be able to visualize your data for your audiences in the most clear and effective ways possible. A chart that takes 10 seconds to understand, compared to one that takes only 2 seconds, could mean the difference between a sale and no sale.

Your data is only as powerful as your visual presentation of it.

In this course, you will learn the fundamentals and best practices of data visualization techniques, as well as hands-on approaches to using Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint to present your data in a variety of formats.

You will complete multiple exercises and create various types of visualizations and charts throughout the course. You will also work individually and in groups to analyze, redesign, and improve poorly designed charts that are provided.

  • Understand basic graphic design principles and how audiences process information visually
  • Learn how to make use of emphasis, color, layout, and typography to maximize the clarity of your messages
  • Become familiar with available tools/techniques for data visualization
  • Understand the differences between “Glanceable” and “Referenceable” visualizations and how to harness the power of each
  • Increase the impact and strength of your messages by choosing the most effective chart for a given data set and story in various circumstances
  • Learn the one color that you should make use of in every visualization, the one default element that should be removed from every chart, how legends can confuse your audience, why a bar is nearly always better than a pie, and common design mistakes that distort your data and damage your credibility  
  • The history and current landscape of information and data design 
  • Basic principles of graphic, information, and layout design 
  • “Chart Junk” and how to remove it to improve clarity
  • Basic charts such as pies, columns, bars, lines, and variations of these 
  • Advanced charts such as scatters, bubbles, histograms, bullet graphs, combos, and Paretos
  • Specialty charts including units, tree maps, and proportional shapes
  • How to make use of trend lines, reference bands, annotations, and direct labeling
  • When to use Excel® and PowerPoint® to create tables, how to properly design them, and how to apply conditional formatting to create heat maps and table lenses
  • Tricks, tips, and techniques for overcoming Excel and PowerPoint limitations and creating proper workflows

Special Feature

Course Requirements: MS Windows-based laptop with working browser to connect to the Internet via WiFi network; as well as a minimum of Microsoft Office 2019 or 365 for PC installed. Those with Mac computers may attend and will be able to follow and perform all exercises, but may not receive as detailed technical attention from the instructor.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the Importance and Relationship of Data and Visualization
  • Identify the Factors That Make Data Visualizations Relatable to an Audience’s Interests and Needs
  • Explore the Different Excel® Chart Types in Relaying Information
  • Describe Techniques Involved in Telling Your Story When Creating Data Visualizations
  • List the Justifications for Using One Type of Visual Chart over Another
  • Understand Functions within PowerPoint® and Excel® to Enhance Your Presentations

Data and Visualization

  • Understand the Principles of Data Visualization
  • Determine the Components That Make a Good Visualization
  • Distinguish between Compelling and Confusing Data Visualization
  • Interpret How Data Relates to Your Audience

Most Commonly Used Charts

  • Identify the Eight Most Used Charts
  • Determine the Benefits and Limitations of These Charts
  • Create Four of the Commonly Used Charts

Design and Formatting 1

  • Develop an Understanding of Visual Perception and How It Relates to the Audience
  • Recognize the Importance of Color
  • Compare and Contract Color Choices When Creating Data Visualizations
  • Determine the Correct Typography to Use in Labeling and Titling Charts

Chart Refresh 1

  • Identify Chart Junk and Learn How to Remove It to Create More Effective Visuals
  • Compare and Contrast Various Chart Types
  • Choose the Most Effective Chart Type That Best Communicates the Data Story Being Told
  • Interpret Basic Graphic Design Principles and Understand How Audiences Process Information Visually

Specialty Charts

  • Identify Specialty Charts and When to Use Them
  • Determine the Benefits and Limitations of These Charts

Design and Formatting 2

  • Develop an Understanding of How Proportional Shapes and Dense Data Are Used to Visualize Comparisons
  • Recognize the Importance of Ordering Data
  • Identify When to Use Tables Instead of Charts
  • Determine the Best Practices for Table Designs
  • Automatically Add Design Using Conditional Formatting

Chart Refresh 2

  • Identify Chart Junk and Learn How to Remove It to Create More Effective Visuals
  • Compare and Contrast Various Chart Types
  • Choose the Most Effective Chart Type That Best Communicates the Data Story Being Told
  • Interpret Basic Graphic Design Principles and Understand How Audiences Process Information Visually

PowerPoint® and Excel®

  • Understand How PowerPoint® Integrates with Excel®
  • Apply Advanced Techniques When Using Microsoft® Products
  • Use a Variety of Functions within PowerPoint® and Excel® to Enhance the Presentation of Your Data

Design Missteps and Tips and Tricks

  • Recognize Common Design Missteps and How to Correct Them
  • Utilize a Variety of Tips and Tricks That Can Be Utilized to Maximize the Design of Your Charts and Tables

Design Your Charts

  • Apply the Skills Learned to Create Three Charts

Download Extended Seminar Outline PDF

View a Sample of Our Reviews

5

171 reviews

 
I enjoyed the course, it was detailed and offered great exercises to feel comfortable working on the new skills at the office.
5
   
Tremendously helpful. I walked away with tools that I can use immediately and in my every day work. This is the type of stuff that works so much better in a class environment w/ hands on exercises led by an instructor.
5
   
Outstanding Course and very patient and knowledgeable She was flexible and allowed me to attend online to accommodation my disability. The instructor showed us many neat ways to customize and make our presentations stand out from the rest. Thank you very much.
5
   
This instructor worked through specific examples for whomever was interested, we had easy to follow step by step materials, the instructor worked with us on most work and we worked on our own providing time for us to mess up and he walked through helping us fix our mistakes
5
   
Good classroom discussions and overall laboratory work. Thought-provoking on some visual presentation elements; could have used some more review of real-world examples to demonstrate certain elements discussed.
5
   
 

 

American Management Association is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is accredited to issue the IACET CEU.

American Management Association is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. For additional information or for more information regarding administrative policies such as complaints and refunds, please contact Martha Leon at 212-903-8173.

Recommended CPE Credit: 14 hours/Intermediate
Prerequisites: Basic understanding of PowerPoint and Excel
Advance Preparation: None
Delivery Method: Group Live/Group Internet Based
Field of Study: Non-technical –Communication & Marketing, Computer Science

Live Online Schedule

5 Sessions Available

2595.00 $
Close