Our world is data-rich — big data, small data, limp data, qualitative, quantitative, and mixed data. Like clay, data is a medium available for shaping stories. When we create maps and infographics, we do so at the confluence of data and design. Skillfully navigating and crafting impactful visual stories is an essential skill for smart nonprofits, effective leadership, and an informed civil society.

In this two-part 180-minute live participation e-certification series, you will engage in an exploration of visual data storytelling. You’ll learn to assess and understand the narrative power behind maps and infographics through a dynamic examination of their power. We’ll explore real-world examples to see what makes an infographic effective and impactful and discuss how to create visual indexes and proxies that serve as guides to interpretation. We’ll also address the topic of bias in visual data storytelling: how to identify it, understand its impact, and use it strategically in our narratives. By engaging with these elements, participants will enhance their critical thinking skills in the context of data visualization and get equipped with the newest insights and practical knowledge. This SSIR Live! webinar-workshop is developed, facilitated, and presented by Carissa Carter, the academic director at the Stanford d.school, the Hasso Plattner Institute for Design at Stanford University.

Note: This is not a data analytics or statistics course; it is suitable for anyone, regardless of their familiarity with design, data, and storytelling. This hands-on and engaging online workshop will be highly beneficial to leaders and practitioners from nonprofits, foundations, government, business, and other social sector organizations. With a blend of theory and practice, this live program series will leave participants with the tools to craft narratives that are not only informative but also compelling and memorable. Whether you’re looking to tell the story of your organization’s impact, shed light on complex issues, or simply bring data to life in new and engaging ways, this workshop will provide the foundation and inspiration to do so. Join us and transform the way you see and share stories with data.

Program Details:

Part I: Navigating Data's Design Dimension
Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Time: 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PT / 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET [90-minute session]

The data universe is vast and varied. Countless stories await discovery within its depths. But how do we ensure we're charting the correct course through this expansive terrain? In the first installment of our journey, we will:

• Venture through the data-and-design nexus, unveiling a blueprint for dissecting maps, infographics, and visual data narratives.
• Manipulate the variables that bring infographics to life, drawing from a repository of authentic scenarios.
• Construct indices and proxies, the silent narrators in our data stories.
• Probe the underlying narratives and hidden motives within infographics and cartographic depictions.

Part II: Weaving Narratives with Infographics
Date: Thursday, March 28, 2024
Time: 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PT / 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET [90-minute session]

Data alone does not make a story. We need a narrative that breathes life into numbers, but crafting a tale that resonates with your audience is an art form. In the second chapter of our exploration, we will:

• Delve into the science of storytelling and its impact on our perception.
• Unveil strategies to unearth the tales you aspire to tell through your organization or initiative.
• Sculpt a narrative arc that mirrors the essence of your mission.
• Master the art of drafting emotional continuums that captivate and move your audience.
• Reflect on the holistic art of employing data visualization as a storytelling medium.

Some course materials will reference instructor Carissa Carter’s books, The Secret Language of Maps: How to Tell Visual Stories With Data and Assembling Tomorrow: A Guide to Designing a Thriving Future.