Data Visualisation: Communicating Data with Impact
Overview
Most data visualisations fail to do what they are intended to do. Overcomplicated dashboards, poorly chosen chart types, inaccessible colour schemes, and unclear messaging often obscure insight rather than reveal it. This leads to confusion, misinterpretation, and poor decision-making.
Data is abundant but attention is limited. The challenge is no longer producing charts, but communicating meaning quickly, clearly, and responsibly.
This practical course addresses the most common problems in modern data visualisation and equips you with the tools to overcome them. You will explore how to move beyond default charts and templates, select the right visual approach for your data story, and apply design principles that improve clarity, accessibility, and impact.
Learning Outcomes:
- Select appropriate data visualisation types to clearly communicate different data stories
- Apply a structured process to design, refine, and improve visualisations
- Use colour and typography effectively to enhance clarity, accessibility, and impact
- Identify and avoid misleading or unethical data visualisation practices
- Confidently use tools and resources to support ongoing data visualisation development
A really excellent course, pitched at the right level for practitioners and covering a really wide range of data visualisation choices – but beyond this, I really welcomed being challenged to think about the data more in terms of exactly what it is that I need my audience to understand and take away from it. I will certainly be using several of the techniques that were spoken about. And lastly, the trainer was great – excellent pace, excellent delivery and a great facilitator. Highly recommend! – Durham Constabulary
Very worthwhile course , content and pace was excellent. The trainer was very knowledgeable and gave great insight and pointers to very useful resource material. – NHS National Services Scotland
An excellent course, with a knowledgeable trainer. – Hampshire County Council
For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 0947 344
Agenda
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Registration
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Why Data Visualisation Matters
- The impact of effective vs ineffective visual communication
- What counts as data visualisation and why it matters
- Understanding audience needs and attention (the “5-second rule”)
- Applying course concepts to your own data and context
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Colour in Data Visualisation
- Principles of colour use and meaning in dataviz
- Creating and refining colour palettes using practical tools
- Using colour to emphasise insight and guide interpretation
- Exercise: Build a colour palette for your own visualisation
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Morning Break
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Accessibility and Inclusive Design
- Accessibility considerations beyond common colour pitfalls
- Understanding relevant accessibility standards and guidelines
- Tools for testing colour contrast and accessibility
- Exercise: Refine your palette to meet accessibility requirements
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Choosing the Right Visualisation
- Matching chart types to data types and communication goals
- Encoding time, comparison, and proportion effectively
- When to use (and not use) raw data and tables
- Exercise: Sketch a visual approach to your data story
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Enhancing Visual Impact
- Combining visualisation types with colour and encoding techniques
- Using maps and spatial data effectively
- Applying double encoding appropriately
- Exercise: Develop alternative visual approaches
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Lunch
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Using Text Effectively
- Reducing cognitive load through text hierarchy and placement
- Annotation and labelling to improve clarity
- When to use (and remove) supporting text
- Exercise: Refine text in your visualisation
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Typography for Data Visualisation
- Selecting fonts for clarity and accessibility
- Applying typography principles to charts and tables
- Enhancing readability and consistency
- Practical tips for improving visual presentation
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Coffee Break
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Ethics in Data Visualisation
- Avoiding misleading or biased visual representations
- Understanding the responsibility of the data communicator
- Reviewing and improving flawed visualisations
- Exercise: Critique and fix a problematic chart
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Building an Effective Workflow
- Creating a repeatable data-to-visualisation process
- Capturing design decisions (colour, typography, hierarchy)
- Using tools (e.g. Excel, Figma) to improve efficiency
- Exercise: Create a visualisation using the full workflow
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Summary and Close
- Key takeaways and next steps
- Further resources for continued learning
- Q&A and close
Get in Touch
Book Now
- Public Sector £525 + VAT
- Private Sector £595 + VAT
- Voluntary Sector £460 + VAT
Trainer
Cara Thompson
Cara Thompson is an experienced data visualisation consultant and trainer who specialises in helping organisations transform complex data into clear, engaging, and actionable insights. She supports teams to design intuitive visualisations, communicate data stories effectively, and develop practical approaches that improve both efficiency and impact.
With over a decade of experience in data analysis, reporting, and communication, Cara combines strong technical expertise with a focus on real-world application. She has extensive experience using tools such as R to automate reporting processes, streamline workflows, and produce high-quality visual outputs aligned to organisational needs.
Cara previously spent over 10 years at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, including roles as Head of Psychometrics. In this capacity, she led the development of automated reporting systems, built and managed analytical teams, and worked closely with senior stakeholders to communicate complex performance data to inform strategic decision-making.
She is particularly passionate about making data accessible and meaningful. Her training style is practical, engaging, and focused on building confidence, ensuring participants leave with the skills to create clear, effective, and ethically sound data visualisations.
