Referring to data visualization as information design is like referring to survey design as evaluation. Yes, evaluators tend to design surveys. But there is way more to being an evaluator than designing a survey. Learning how to be an information designer requires more than learning how to create nice looking charts, infographics, presentations, and reports. […]
What’s so special about UX research with Joanna Prout
Over the coming year I hope to spend a little time on this blog showcasing some of the members of my Information Design Academy. In today’s post we’ll hear from Joanna Prout. Joanna is currently exploring a career transition from research and evaluation into the field of user experience research. I asked her to share some […]
Where we Fail
In today’s post I want to address one those elephants in the room. It’s about the biggest reason why data people have trouble producing creative work. We are all creative, but some of us have way more practice. You want to know what I’ve learned in my decade long transition from data analyst to information […]
Flirting with Burnout
This is one of those oversharing kinds of blog posts filled with me being vulnerable. If you don’t like reading about people’s feelings, please feel free to skip this post. I love my work. But I also struggle. When burnout approaches. It’s now been over six and a half years since I first left the […]
How to use AI to make your reports readable [ChatGPT & the Hemingway App]
Are you a little hesitant about all this AI stuff? Me too. But these new AI tools can actually be pretty dang useful and easy to use. For the most part I’m a new tech skeptic. Before I add another tool to my personal toolkit, I want it to be beyond that early adoption phase. […]
Creating Shadow Logic Models with Celestyna Galicki
Over the coming year I hope to spend a little time on this blog showcasing some of the interesting work created by members of my Information Design Academy. In today’s post we’ll look at something created by Celestyna Galicki that we started calling a Shadow Logic Model. Most of the words (and the Shadow Logic […]
Thinking like a UX Designer: UX Problems
Do you know how to identify a UX Problem with your reports or communication designs? It’s not all that hard. But first, a story. The door without the handle I took this picture last week on my way back into the office after taking my dog for a walk. What you might not see at […]
The two types of report.
Without fail, this question would come up when I would present to evaluation teams on why they should consider changing the way they report. It would usually come from a senior member of the team. Likely one that had never heard of me before another team member suggested they bring me in for a conversation. […]
My 5 How Questions for the Coming Year
At the end of every year you get loads of advice for how to approach the next one. Lots of that advice centers around resolutions, words, or statements. I decided to do something a little different this year and give myself a list of how questions. Will it be useful in the coming year? Who […]
Evaluation Christmas Cartoons 2022
Every holiday season I try to draw a set of Christmas comics. For whatever reason, it was harder this year. SIMON: Do you still pick up the pen? SPIEGELMAN: I pick it up, but it’s a very heavy instrument right now. And I’ve got little notes and little doodles and drawings. I have no idea […]