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AI and Digital Transformation

Data Visualisation and Storytelling for Analysts

Technically sound analysis often fails to influence decisions because it is poorly communicated, and the analyst concludes the audience did not understand rather than that the chart did not say anything. This course fixes the communication. Delegates work through establishing the single message a chart exists to carry, selecting an encoding suited to the comparison being made, and removing the decoration that competes with the data. Colour is treated as meaning rather than decoration, including accessible palettes and the semantic use of good, warning and critical. Annotation and the labelled point that makes a finding unmissable follow. Narrative structure is covered, since a sequence of charts is an argument. The course closes on presenting to a decision maker and on the chart that should have been a sentence.

Course objectives

  • Establish the single message a chart exists to carry
  • Select an encoding suited to the comparison being made
  • Remove decoration that competes with the data
  • Use colour as meaning, with accessible palettes
  • Annotate so a finding cannot be missed
  • Structure a sequence of charts as an argument
  • Recognise when a chart should have been a sentence

Who should attend

  • Data and business analysts
  • Research and monitoring and evaluation officers
  • Communications professionals working with data
  • Management consultants
  • Report writers in government and development organisations

Course outline

  1. 01Blaming the audience for the chart
  2. 02The single message
  3. 03Encoding and the comparison being made
  4. 04Removing competing decoration
  5. 05Colour as meaning
  6. 06Accessible palettes and semantic colour
  7. 07Annotation and labelled points
  8. 08Narrative structure and presenting to a decision maker

Scheduled sessions

Scheduled sessions for Data Visualisation and Storytelling for Analysts
DatesVenueFormatPriceRegister
30 December 2026 to 1 January 2027OnlineOnlineR6,500 per delegateRegister Now
4 to 6 January 2027Lagos, NigeriaClassroomUSD 995 per delegateRegister Now
18 to 20 January 2027Cape Town, South AfricaClassroomR14,950 per delegateRegister Now

Data Visualisation and Storytelling for Analysts

From R6,500

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