Data Storytelling and Dashboard Design

Course Description

The course deals with data storytelling and dashboard design. It introduces students to the use of visualization and dashboard design to enhance the presentation of data. Throughout the semester students are encouraged to apply the principles they have learned to the needs of their personal practice.

Learner's Course Expectations

At the outset of the course, I anticipated a hands-on, tool-oriented approach centered on the usability of established dashboarding platforms such as Microsoft Power BI. I expected guided instruction on navigating these tools and constructing dashboards through step-by-step demonstrations. My assumption was that the course would prioritize technical proficiency over conceptual depth, focusing primarily on software functionality and interface familiarity. I also presumed that ready-made datasets and predefined templates would be provided to streamline the learning process. Overall, I envisioned a curriculum that was predominantly technical in nature, emphasizing dashboard construction through structured guidance.

Lessons Discussed

Why Visualize?
Single Numbers
How Two or More Numbers are Alike
How We Are Better or Worse Than a Benchmark: Displaying Relative Performance
What the Survey Says: Showing Likert, Ranking, Check-All-That-Apply, and More
When There Are Parts of a Whole
How This Thing Changes When That Thing Does
When the Words Have the Meaning
How Things Changed Over Time: Depicting Trends
Best Practices of Dashboard Design

Learner's Outputs

Learner's Reflection

Prelim Term

The preliminary part of our course laid the groundwork for understanding the purpose and value of data visualization. I learned that visualization is not just about charts—it’s about communicating data in a way that makes insight easier and faster to grasp. When working with single numbers, I realized the importance of highlighting what truly matters, such as totals or key metrics, in a format that's instantly clear. Comparing two or more numbers taught me to focus on structure, grouping, and alignment to show relationships and differences effectively. One particularly useful concept was showing relative performance, where I learned how to visually compare actual values against a benchmark or goal. This helped me appreciate how people naturally look for context in data, not just the numbers themselves. Overall, the Prelim topics gave me a strong foundation in designing simple yet meaningful visuals.

Midterm

During the Midterm, we focused on more complex data types and visualization scenarios, particularly those found in survey data and proportional relationships. Visualizing Likert scales, rankings, and check-all-that-apply questions was especially insightful for me as someone interested in analytics involving human behavior and preferences. I now understand the importance of scale, direction, and labeling to ensure that responses are interpreted correctly. Learning to visualize parts of a whole helped me realize that pie charts are often not the best choice, and better alternatives like stacked or 100% bar charts can provide much more clarity. The topic “How This Thing Changes When That Thing Does” introduced me to visualizing correlations and patterns between variables—something I found exciting and applicable in predictive modeling. This phase strengthened my skills in selecting the right chart for the right message, depending on the data structure and audience.

Final Term

The Final period of the course emphasized storytelling and professional presentation of data. One of the most eye-opening topics was "When the Words Have the Meaning," where I learned how textual data and annotations can add depth and clarity to visualizations. I saw how integrating small bits of narrative or call-outs within charts can guide the viewer’s attention and help them interpret the data more effectively. The topic on depicting trends over time was also valuable—I practiced using line graphs, area charts, and small multiples to show patterns, seasonality, or significant changes. To cap it all off, learning about the best practices of dashboard design tied all the concepts together. I now understand how to approach dashboards from a user-centered perspective—keeping visuals clean, consistent, and focused on decision-making. This last section made me more confident in applying what I learned in real-world business settings.