Tell your story and show it with data, using free and easy-to-learn tools on the web. This introductory book teaches you how to design interactive charts and customized maps for your website, beginning with simple drag-and-drop tools such as Google Sheets, Datawrapper, and Tableau Public. You'll also gradually learn how to edit open source code templates like Chart.js, Highcharts, and Leaflet on GitHub.

Hands-On Data Visualization takes you step-by-step through tutorials, real-world examples, and online resources. This practical guide is ideal for students, nonprofit organizations, small business owners, local governments, journalists, academics, and anyone who wants to take data out of spreadsheets and turn it into lively interactive stories. No coding experience is required.

• Build interactive charts and maps and embed them in your website
• Understand the principles for designing effective charts and maps
• Learn key data visualization concepts to help you choose the right tools
• Convert and transform tabular and spatial data to tell your data story
• Edit and host Chart.js, Highcharts, and Leaflet map code templates on GitHub
• Learn how to detect bias in charts and maps produced by others

Table of Contents

Part I. Foundational Skills

Chapter 1. Choose Tools to Tell Your Story

Chapter 2. Strengthen Your Spreadsheet Skills

Chapter 3. Find and Question Your Data

Chapter 4. Clean Up Messy Data

Chapter 5. Make Meaningful Comparisons

Part II. Building Visualizations

Chapter 6. Chart Your Data

Chapter 7. Map Your Data

Chapter 8. Table Your Data

Chapter 9. Embed on the We,b

Part III. Code Templates and Advanced Tools

Chapter 10. Edit and Host Code with GitHub

Chapter 11. Chart.js and Highcharts Templates

Chapter 12. Leaflet Map Templates

Chapter 13. Transform Your Map Data

Part IV. Telling True, Meaningful Stories

Chapter 14. Detect Lies and Reduce Bias

Chapter 15. Tell and Show Your Data Story

Appendix A. Fix Common Problems

About the Authors

Jack Dougherty is a Professor of Educational Studies at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Professor Dougherty has taught data visualization to undergraduates at Trinity College and to thousands of participants in a global online course. He and his students have partnered with dozens of non-profit organizations, journalists, and researchers to help tell their data stories on the web.

Ilya Ilyankou is an Independent Technologist. Ilya has been working with CTData Collaborative to build data visualization and data exploration tools for Connecticut for two years. He studied Computer Science and Studio Arts at Trinity College, Hartford.