Graphic Novel

Confession Time: I’m not a reader [graphic novel blog post]

December 2, 2019 Chris Lysy

In today’s graphic novel blog post I talk about the underlying challenge that drives my work.

I have a confession.

I am not a big reader.
Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of reading, and enjoy being read to.
But when I read to myself one of two things happens...

The book is really interesting and causes my mind to go off on tangents.
The book is really dull or repetitive and my mind just shuts off.

Now graphic novels on the other hand. I can't get enough of them. And the industry is booming.
Used to be mostly super hero comics.
But more and more we see history, memoirs, biography, adaptations, and literature.

Unfortunately for people like me, the world of research and evaluation tends to be one big block of text.

Except for some notable areas.
Data visualization, aka the most academically acceptable form of illustration.
Social media and digital dissemination.
Presentation design.
Modern report design.
eLearning design.

I spend a lot of time trying to find my place in the contemporary professional world.
Am I a data analyst?
Am I a designer?
Am I a digital publisher?
Am I a developer?
Am I a teacher?
Am I a cartoonist?
But i think the truth might be far more simple...

I think I'm just frustrated with the slow evolution of the academic world towards a more visual interface.

Because hidden in those big blocks of text are important ideas and evidence critical to making our world a better place.

And if we don't adapt and evolve, we create space for conmen to hijack the public trust.
[like Trump]

Now I know cartoons and graphic novels won't save us. But this needs to be better.

But I'm curious. Does this resonate at all, or is it just me?

Love t hear your thoughts in the comments, on twitter (@clysy), or on LinkedIn (LinkedIn.com/in/clysy).

Chart Choosing Advice [Graphic Novel Blog Post]

November 26, 2019 Chris Lysy

If we chose clothing the way we chose charts, we would all look the same. How dull. My contention, there is no single right chart or wrong chart, that said, here is how I go about choosing.

So how do you choose the best chart for your data?

I tried to ask Google, but the search results were inconclusive. So here's some advice based on my experience.

You can hardly go wrong using one of the old reliables. Line Charts, Bar Charts, Scatter Plots.

Just because you "can" put everything in one chart, doesn't mean you should.

Splitting up a stacked or clustered bar into separate charts can make it easier to process and apply focus on what is most important.

Stacked bars can be useful when comparing the totals is the main point.

But in some instances, like ratings and scales, shifting the central axis can really increase the value of the chart. Like in a deviated bar.

Bars are reliable tools, but they're not the only game in town. All sorts of other shapes can represent the same data points just using position.

So why switch out a bar for a dot? One advantage, you get to pack more data on the same line. This can be great for breaking down by variables like race and gender.

There are a lot of people who hate pie charts. But there really isn't anything wrong with basic pies. A simple pie chart is fine.

Now when you add too many slices, or turn it 3D. That's a different story.

With too many slices you can't possibly compare. And 3D charts distort data.

With the help of a lighter color or shade you can add more data to a chart but leave the focus. This can give your charts added depth.

So how do you visualize descriptive statistics? Charts like box and whiskers can confuse non-stats people.
When possible, I just visualize all the data. Then emphasize the median with color.

Trying to figure out the best chart is like looking for the perfect cookie recipe. The "Best" is highly subjective.

Try some different options, ask for opinions, and go with your gut.

So, if I were to create a bunch of these types of lessons and put them together into a graphic novel guide, would you buy it?

Rule 1: Everyone is Overwhelmed [Graphic Novel Blog Post]

November 25, 2019 Chris Lysy

Understanding context is important when designing, with or without data. And overwhelm is an almost universal challenge in our oversaturated contemporary digital culture.

Rule #1 Everyone is overwhelmed.

You almost have to assume that your audience is distra...
...sorry, what was I saying?

How do you present to a distracted audience? Do you try to lure them in with images? DO YOU SHOUT? Do you wait to be noticed? Do you just keep talking? Do you try once then give up? Do you ask for help?

Chris Lysy character says, "Unfortunately, I can't answer that question for you.
And to add insult to injury, we're all trying to deal with the same issue at the same time. Turning social media into an automated noise machine. Adding to the overwhelm."

The overwhelm of the digital world gives us a new appreciation for white space.

[Lots of white space] Chris Lysy character saying "Ahh"

Did you like the graphic novel blog post? Love to know what you think as this might become a “thing.”