Data
Storytelling
A masterclass on turning your data into stories and charts that drive change
Learn to tell stories with data and design powerful visuals
We draw on more than 10 years of creating award-winning data-driven stories to teach you the secrets of making effective visuals. Our course is designed to help you understand how to use data to tell stories that drive change. We'll walk you through the basics of a good visual and the techniques we use to make information rich charts and visuals. By the end of the workshop you'll be making your own charts.
Book your seat
15 May – Cape Town
Venues, costs & full course outline
Your trainers
Quality training from experts in the data field. Have fun while boosting your data skills and learning from our decades of experience.
Alastair Otter
Alastair has been a journalist for more than 20 years. He has won more than 10 national and international awards for data storytelling and visualisation.
Laura Grant
Laura Grant is an award-winning data journalist who has been training people in the communications business for five years in data and visualisation skills. She is the founder and director of Media Hack Collective and the managing editor of The Outlier, South Africa’s first data-driven online publication.
What you'll learn
• Identify the stories that data tells us – and then communicate them effectively
• Take data from a spreadsheet or table and make it into an eye-catching static or interactive graph using Flourish, an online data visualisation tool
• Make interactive graphs that can be published on a website
• Turn a static graphic into an eye-catching social media post using Canva, an online design tool
Who should attend
This 4-hour workshop is for anyone who wants to learn how to communicate effectively with graphs and graphics, such as people working in communications, PR or HR. No previous experience or special skills are necessary, this is a beginner-level course. But an openness to trying something new is compulsory.
All the details
Cape Town
10 May 2024
Workshop 17 Kloof Street Cape Town
9am - 1pm
R3,000/person
excl VAT
Fully Booked
Cape Town
15 May 2024
Workshop 17 Kloof Street Cape Town
9am - 1pm
R3,000/person
excl VAT
Book your seat
Course Outline
Data is everywhere. It's not just about numbers: data gives you insights about people and the world they live in. Learn how to go beyond spreadsheets, algorithms and mathematical calculations to tell compelling stories. Using two easy-to-use tools you'll learn how to make beautiful graphs and graphics that will get what you want to say across effectively in reports, presentations and on social media.

What skills will you learn?

We will show you how to:

Identify the stories that data tells us – and then communicate them effectively Take data from a spreadsheet or table and make it into an eye-catching static or interactive graph using Flourish, an online data visualisation tool Make interactive graphs that can be published on a website Turn a static graphic into an eye-catching social media post using Canva, an online design tool

What do you need to do the course?

You'll need to bring your laptop as you'll get hands-on experience making your own graphs.

Course Outline

An introduction to graphs and graphics

  • Why graphs are useful for communicating information
  • Types of graphs can you make.
  • Static versus interactive graphs: when to use them
  • Who is your audience?
  • Where will you use your graphs and graphics? Presentation, social media, media release for republication

Flourish Part 1: Getting started

Data basics: Where to find it. What you need to know about it to turn it into a graph. Note: This includes a very gentle introduction to spreadsheets How to get your data into Flourish so you can start creating

Flourish Part 2: Make your own graphs

  • How to decide which graph to make
  • What you need to know about headings, subheads, axes and annotations to make a great graph

Flourish Part 3: Publishing your chart

  • How to publish an interactive chart
  • How to download static charts from Flourish
  • Adding the finishing touches: A beginner’s guide to Canva
  • A quick guide to templates for social media, presentations and more
  • How to get your Flourish graph into Canva
  • The key design skills you need to turn your graph into a great graphic.
Have a question? Contact us
Our Team Awards
Some of them, at least
Winner
2024
WAN-IFRA Digital Media Awards Africa Best Data Visualisation
Winner
2023
Sikuvile Feature Story
Finalist
2019
Global Editors Network Data Journalism Award
Winner
2018
Vodacom Journalist of the Year
Winner
2018
Vodacom Data Journalist Award
Finalist
2018
Global Editors Network Data Journalism Award
Winner
2018
Pudding Cup Data Journalism Awards
Finalist
2018
Sikuvile Multiplatform Journalism Award
Winner
2017
Vodacom Online Journalism Award