Engage – a series of lectures on a range of Computing, Engineering and Design topics, organised by Bangor University's School of Computer Science and Engineering.
“Storytelling with Data: Creating Emotional Connections and Designing Alternatives”
Data visualisation isn't just about numbers; it’s about connecting with an audience on a deeper, emotional level. In this talk, I will explore how data art and narrative-driven visualisations can transform raw data into compelling stories. By blending creativity with analytical insights, we can design visualisations that evoke emotion and enhance understanding.
The presentation is structured into three parts. First, I will discuss the role of storytelling in design, showcasing examples of powerful data-driven narratives and art. Next, we’ll explore the Five Design-Sheets (FdS) method, a hands-on approach for sketching creative visualisation ideas. Finally, I will introduce a generative, path-based method for designing visualisations and discuss its potential for future AI-driven visual tools. By the end, you'll have learned a practical design technique (FdS), seen it in action, and explored new tools for pushing the boundaries of visualisation design.
Professor Jonathan C. Roberts. Collaborating in multidisciplinary teams (including, law, media, archaeology, ocean science) he investigates novel ways to display and analyse data, to create novel exploratory solutions, alternative views and tell stories with data. His research is creative, focusing on the design and development of interactive visualisation solutions. He is best known for his work on Multiple Coordinated Views and the development of the Five Design-Sheets (FdS) design method. He co-authored the book Five Design-Sheets: Creative Design and Sketching for Computing and Visualisation, Springer Nature, June 2017.