DATA VISUALIZATION
Instructor Prof. Jeff Thompson
Email jeff.thompson@stevens.edu
Office/hours Morton 208, Tuesdays 2–4pm
Meeting times Mondays 1–4.50pm
Location Visual Arts & Technology Studio
What does a day of flight paths in the US look like? What can we learn about NYC by mapping shadows? How can a Twitter bot help us experience the minute details found in census data? How can data, design, and journalism pair to show racial injustice in America? Data visualization is a complex and varied field, found in a range of disciplines where the methodology ranges from scientific (full of stats and academic papers) to infographics found in newspapers and even fine art that uses data as an input. Our focus this semester will be seeing data as a complicated political and technical material charged with aesthetic potential. We'll explore this idea through creative projects that will ask you to think about how we record and represent the world through data, how we can tell stories with information, and to connect this research and creative work with ideas and issues you are excited and passionate about.
"90% of the data in the world today has been created in the last two years." – IBM report on big data
"Graphical excellence is that which gives to the viewer the greatest number of ideas in the shortest time with the least ink in the smallest space." – Edward Tufte
"Getting information from a table is like extracting sunlight from a cucumber." – Arthur and Henry Farquhar, 1981
We'll begin by considering what can constitute data and analog ways of presenting it. From there, we'll use Adobe Illustrator for developing print graphics, along with more complex but readily-available tools like Microsoft Excel for manipulating data. In the second half of the semester, we'll work with Processing, a coding platform that will allow us to parse and visualize massive datasets. This class assumes you’ve never used any of these tools before, but if you have your experience will allow you to make more complex, exciting projects.
For information about homework, grades, etc, please see CoursePolicies.md.
COURSE CALENDAR
May change, so be sure to check Canvas and this page regularly!
WEEK 1: AUG 26
Intro and syllabus, what is data visualization
Reading:
Interpreting Visualizations by Johanna Drucker (in the Readings folder)
Homework:
Everday Data
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LABOR DAY (SEPT 2) – NO CLASS!
This week, please finish the reading and Everyday Data project
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WEEK 2: SEPT 9
Critique of Everyday Data, discussion of reading, Illustrator basics
Homework:
Two Things
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WEEK 3: SEPT 16
Critique of Two Things project, further Illustrator demos, common data formats
Homework:
Data Zine: ideation and sample data recording
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WEEK 4: SEPT 23
Present project ideas, further Illustrator demos, combining data in Excel
Homework:
Data Zine: research and gather data
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WEEK 5: SEPT 30
Documenting and publishing data, further Illustrator demos, folding machine and binding demo, create mockup sketches
Homework:
Data Zine: mockup
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WEEK 6: OCT 7 – JEFF OUT OF TOWN, NO CLASS!
Continue working on mockup for next week
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WEEK 7: OCT 14 – FALL BREAK!
Class meets on Tuesday, Oct 15 instead!
Small-group feedback of mockups, demos as needed, work day
Homework:
Finish and print Data Zines, install Processing
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WEEK 8: OCT 21
Critique of Data Zines, programming basics, loading CSV files, working with USGS data
Homework:
Earthquake Data: code sketches
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WEEK 9: OCT 28
Small-group feedback on code sketches, further Processing demos, work day
Homework:
Finish Earthquake Data
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WEEK 10: NOV 4
Help with final 5% of Earthquake Data project, critique, design briefs, ideation session
Homework:
Final Project: proposal
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WEEK 11: NOV 11
Project idea feedback session, design sprint, further Processing demos
Homework:
Final Project: work in progress
Reading:
What Would Feminist Data Visualization Look Like? by Catherine D'Ignazio (link in the Final Project assignment)
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WEEK 12: NOV 18
In-progress feedback session, feminist data vis challenges
Homework:
Final Project: work in progress
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WEEK 13: NOV 25
In-progress feedback session, work day
Homework:
Finish Final Project
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WEEK 14: DEC 2
Critique of Final project
Homework:
Document your final project and upload to Canvas
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EXAM PERIOD: DEC 9, 9AM
Documentation due to Canvas, have a great break!