Intro
Topics
- Introduction
- Visualization vs. the infographic
In class
- Snow map demo files (ZIP) or KML direct download (ZIP) via Robin Wilson
Projects
- Start Dear data
Detailed schedule
GDES-396 spring 2020 (David Ramos, American University Design)
ramos@american.edu · office hours
Revised for emergency move to an online format.
Encoding data
Topics
- Methods of encoding data
- Elementary perceptual tasks
Projects
- Final critique for Dear data
- Start Encodings
(Project work for critique or submittal should be complete at the beginning of class.)
Reading
- Truthful Art ch. 1 (What We Talk About When We Talk About Visualization)
- Truthful Art ch. 5 (Basic Principles of Visualization)
Course survey
Fill out a course survey.
Visualizing change + workflows
Topics
- Time-series data
- Basic workflows
In class
- U.S. Navy ship force levels (ZIP) from Naval History and Heritage Command tables.
- RawGraphs
- Flourish
Projects
- Final critique for Encodings
- Start Change over time
Reading
- Truthful Art ch. 2 (The Five Qualities of Great Visualizations)
- Truthful Art ch. 8 (Revealing Change)
- Alli Torban, What does “clean it up in Illustrator” mean?
Visualizing comparisons
Topics
- Categorical data
- Crosstabulations
Projects
- Studio and small-group critiques for Change over time
N.B.: Plan to show your work, in progress, for a critique during any class this semester.
Reading
- Truthful Art ch. 6 (Exploring Data with Simple Charts)
- Truthful Art ch. 3 (The Truth Continuum)
Means, medians, and distributions
Topics
- Means, medians, and distributions
In class
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Arts and Design Occupations
- AIGA/Aquent Survey of Design Salaries, 2014 (cf. past surveys)
- A List Apart “People Who Make Websites” survey, 2011
- AIGA Design Census 2017 (there is also a 2019 census, but I haven’t had a chance to work with the data)
- Design Census data, median/mean (ZIP)
- Design Census Workbench workflow
Projects
- Final critique for Change over time
- Start New versions
Reading
- Truthful Art ch. 7 (Visualizing Distributions)
- Nathan Yau, Summary Statistics Tell You Little About the Big Picture
Color
Topics
- Color
- Color models (es. HSL/HCL)
Two good color palette tools
Projects
- Critique New versions
- Start Neighborhoods
Reading
- Truthful Art ch. 9 (Seeing Relationships)
- Robert Simmon, Subtleties of Color, parts 1 and 3
- Optional, if you want to work more with R: Lynda Learning R course. Watch Intro and parts 1 and 2—skip “Reading Data from SPSS.” (Log in to Lynda via AU Library.)
Cartographic principles
Topics
- Map principles
- Projections and scale
- Layers of spatial data
In class
- QGIS/GIS exercise (you do not need to turn maps in)
Reading
- Truthful Art ch. 10 (Mapping Data)
- How Maps Change Us
GIS intro
Topics
- GIS with QGIS
- Open-source spatial data
Projects
- Final critique for Neighborhoods
- Start Mapping
Reading
- Issie Lapowsky, Is the US Leaning Red or Blue? It All Depends On Your Map
In class
- DC Open Data: Public Schools (points)
- DC Open Data: Railroads (lines)
- DC Open Data: Public School Grounds (polygons)
- OpenStreetMap
- Geofabrik OSM data extracts
- Feature descriptions on the OSM Wiki
Spring Break
Class check-in
Class moves online from this date because of COVID–19 and campus shutdown.
Topics
Reading
- Optional: Gordon Luckett, Learning QGIS on Lynda, parts 1–4. (Log in to Lynda via AU Library.)
Check-in
Topics
Projects
- You can choose to start the Final project (or continue with expanded Mapping project)
Reading
- Optional: Gordon Luckett, Learning QGIS on Lynda, parts 5–9. (Log in to Lynda via AU Library.)
Mapping
Projects
- Continue work on Mapping/Final project
Reading
- Mapbox intro tutorial video
Quantitative data on maps / Framing
Projects
- Continue work on Mapping/Final project
Topics
- Representing quantitative spatial data
- Framing through writing and headlines
Reading
- Richard Casey Sadler, How ZIP codes nearly masked the lead problem in Flint
- Hernán Gómez and Kim Dietrich, The Children of Flint Were Not ‘Poisoned’
- Optional: Projection Reference, a guide to map projections by Bill Rankin
Field trip in your own home
Projects
- Continue work on Mapping/Final project
Reading
- Truthful Art ch. 4 (Of Conjectures and Uncertainty)
Field trip far away from other people
Projects
- Continue work on Mapping/Final project
All projects must be turned in; no class
Class does not meet during exam period.
- Final project is due by 6 p.m. EDT