Storytelling with Data Using Excel Course

Module 1: The Importance of Context

• Exploratory vs. Analysis
• Who, What, and How
• Consulting for Context: Questions to Ask
• The 3-Minute Story & Big Idea
• Storyboarding

Module 2: Choosing an Effective Visual

• Simple Text
• Tables
• Graphs
• Points
• Scatterplot
• Lines
• Line Graph
• Slopegraph
• Bars
• Vertical Bar Chart
• Stacked Vertical Bar Chart
• Waterfall Chart
• Horizontal Bar Chart
• Stacked Horizontal Bar Chart
• Area
• More Graphs
• What to Avoid

Module 3: Clutter is Your Enemy!

• Cognitive Load
• Clutter
• Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception
• Lack of Visual Order
• White Space
• Non-Strategic Use of Contrast
• Decluttering: Step-by –Step

Module 4: Focus Your Audience’s Attention

• You See with Your Brain
• A Brief Lesson on Memory
• Iconic Memory
• Short-Term Memory
• Long-Term Memory
• Preattentive Attributes Signal Where to Look
• Preattentive Attributes in Text
• Preattentive Attributes in Graphs
• Size & Color

Module 5: Think like a Designer

• Affordances
• Accessibility
• Aesthetics
• Acceptance

Module 6: Dissecting Model Visuals

• Line Graph
• Annotated Line Graph with Forecast
• 100% Stacked Bars
• Leveraging Positive and Negative Stacked Bars

Module 7: Lessons in Storytelling

• The Magic of Story
• Constructing the Story
• The Narrative Structure
• The Power of Repetition
• Tactics for a Clear Story

Module 8: Pulling it All Together

• Understand the Context
• Choose an Appropriate Display
• Eliminate Clutter
• Draw the Right Attention
• Think Like a Designer
• Tell a Story