Course Overview
TOPLearn to create compelling, data-driven visuals using Illustrator. Learn best practices in information design while discovering how to easily build charts, pictographs, timelines, icon-based visuals, and interactive layouts. Through hands-on exercises and projects you will learn to create infographics and data visualizations that can be distributed across any format including online, posters, publications, email, and presentations.
You ll also leave this course with a foundational understanding of data visualization principles, as well as a complete set of skills for creating a variety of types of infographics, charts and graphs that reflect real-world best practices in visual communication and information design.
Scheduled Classes
TOPWhat You'll Learn
TOP- Turn data into visual stories using Illustrator
- Create a variety of infographic types
- Use Illustrator s chart tools, grids, and layout techniques for infographic design
- Discover the best data visualizations, charts and graphs for sharing different types of data
- Incorporate icons, pictographs, timelines, and maps into your visual work
- Apply design principles including hierarchy, typography, white space, and negative space
- Export data visualizations for web, print, social media, and presentation formats
- Develop and apply a design process for data storytelling
Outline
TOPData Visualization Essentials
- Introduction to data storytelling
- Why Infographics Matter in the Age of Information Overload
- Identifying appropriate uses of infographics
- Examples of good and bad data visualization
Creating Charts and Using Illustrator Graph Tool
- Chart types and when to use them, including bar, line, and pie charts
- Anatomy of an effective chart: title, axis, legend, data labels, color use
- Adding and formatting bar, line, and pie charts
- Aligning visual elements with text
- Building a chart infographic using data
- Importing data from Excel and other sources
Icon-based charts and Pictographs for data visualization in Illustrator
- Using icons to represent data
- Creating pictographs
- Designing layouts for timelines and proportional visualizations
- Blending qualitative and quantitative data
- Balancing clarity with creativity
- Importing icons
- Working with multiple data points
Understanding Layout, Visual Hierarchy and Design for Infographics
- Creating visual emphasis through spacing and contrast
- Applying color strategically for comprehension
- Effective use of typography
- Creating grid-based layouts using grids and guides
- Creating clean, clear visualizations
Word Clouds and Non-Numerical Data Visualizations in Illustrator
- Visualizing qualitative or frequency-based data
- Choosing shapes and colors that support interpretation
- Create a word cloud infographic from short-form text data
Data Visualization Project
- Adapting an existing graphic into new forms
- Reframing message through layout and style changes
Creating a Timeline Infographic in Illustrator
- Arranging time-based data
- Designing multi-step layouts
- Adding labels, icons, and highlights
- Building a timeline infographic using historical data
Design TreeMaps and Hierarchical Diagrams using Illustrator
- Visualizing part-to-whole relationships
- Creating a block-based hierarchy in Illustrator
- Create a TreeMap
Create a Proportional Symbol or Icon Grid Chart
- Representing quantitative values with visual units
- Maintaining visual consistency and alignment
- Build a proportional symbol chart using repeating icon units
Map-Based Infographics using Illustrator
- Importing maps
- Colorizing maps
- Alternative solutions beyond Illustrator
Using Data for Storytelling
- Sketching, planning, and executing a custom infographic layout
- Creating a visualization from start to finish
Capstone Infographic Project
- Create and present an infographic
- Use supplied data or your own data for a project
- Share your infographic
Prerequisites
TOPYou must have the Adobe Illustrator software to attend this class. Virtual labs are not provided. You can purchase the software or obtain a trial version from the Adobe website.