When did data visualization start being cool? I don’t know, but I think I’m on board. When watching Journalism in the age of data, I learned much more about not only the diverse world of data visualization, but also the evolution of the “craft.”
This 50 minute video bounced between interviews with professionals and examples of data visualization work, telling the story of information graphics innovations, pitfalls, triumphs, and impact in the world of journalism. The world of information graphics has become its own niche industry, primarily empowered by media sources. This practice isn’t new, graphs have been used in media for decades. But with the technology revolution, more news and information seekers are utilizing digital technology in their searches. This move has opened the doors for animation, interaction, and motion graphics data visualization, developing data’s ability to tell stories.
This video had great insight and examples, but the section I enjoyed most was the short section that discussed motion graphics using After Effects. Many of the professionals throughout the video pointed out problems with the trends of data visualization including that data visualizations can present data without much context or storytelling. Motion graphics expands the capability for data to be visualized in a potentially interactive format, but also a highly engaging linear format as well. I think that the way animators are telling the story behind information is amazing. Giving information movement, a voice, life. It’s fun and exciting. But most of all, its great education. Of all the clickable, expandable graphs and charts and visualizers, I haven’t found a better way to understand a facts, figures or data than through a linear, narrative, and aesthetically pleasing animation. But I think that within this video format there is room for a deeper look through the other bells and whistles. I am excited to keep learning about how to tell stories through visually interactive platforms, but I love the idea of a multifaceted story that incorporates linear and nonlinear information.
eeeek so excited!