listen while you...
I’ve been working on some wide-ranging projects lately. To give you a sense of the gamut: I’ve been drawing brightly colored dragons and aliens (a new project for a younger audience). I’ve been planning, designing, and iterating on exercises and slides (an upcoming new workshop). I’ve been sitting in a small sound booth, reading a book aloud with a microphone in my face (the forthcoming audiobook for storytelling with you).
Each of these areas requires focus. But they are each a different kind of focus. In the case of the audio recording, everything else must be blocked out. No noises, movements, or other visual distractions—just me, the book, and my voice. With the workshop planning, it takes my full concentration but there can be other sounds or visual inputs. I simply tune them out. These are both in stark contrast to drawing. In that case, while I am attentive to what I’m doing, I can feasibly simultaneously watch a video or listen to a podcast.
My eyes are mostly occupied, whereas my ears are entirely free, so I’ve opted to listen to podcasts while I draw. It’s become an interesting pseudo meditative sort of state, with my visual and auditory attention split between two very different activities. I’ve come to rather enjoy it.
People sometimes find it funny that I started recording the storytelling with data podcast at a time when I was not a podcast consumer (the podcast was driven largely by my husband, Randy, who was). But over time, this has changed for me. I listen to podcasts when I take the dog for a walk around the neighborhood (unless I have an upcoming presentation and need to practice aloud). I listen while I run. And now, I listen while I draw.
When do you—or when could you—do the same? If you’re in need of something to listen to, I’ve listed some of our recent SWD podcast episodes below, including the latest, which was recorded in that same sound room where I’m recording the audiobook (which should be available late this summer for those who’d like to listen to that, too!).
episode 67 | storytelling withOUT data
Graphs and slides are often the first tools we reach for when we need to communicate with data—but when might storytelling withOUT data yield better results? Cole outlines numerous scenarios for alternative approaches, sharing examples from clients, workshops, and her books. From boardgames to baby pics, tune in to learn about humanizing data, when low fidelity solutions work best, the Picture Superiority Effect, and much more.
episode 66 | designing in light & dark
Mike and Alex discuss the advantages and drawbacks of designing visualizations with light and dark backgrounds, using examples from SWD community members to highlight where each approach can be preferable. Then, they dive into history and discuss the staying power of some famous graphs. What makes them memorable—and how we might be able to elevate them, using modern tools and perspectives?
episode 65: EMPHASIZE it!
You'll probably make a few mistakes when learning to visualize and communicate data. That's okay! It's all a part of the learning journey and can be preferred since we often learn more from our mistakes than our successes. SWD storyteller Alex embraces her early missteps as she takes a trip down memory lane to share where she went wrong and what she learned.
You can view and listen to all of our podcast episodes here.
