Australian Bureau of Statistics
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The Australian Bureau of Statistics required a data visualisation and data communication specialist to support the building of in-house capability for better engaging the public and other stakeholders on data insights, including building interactive visualisations. Services were required to:
Identify and establish tools/software and resources to help improve our communication and data visualisation capacity (e.g. Tableau Public, Power BI); and
Provide training and professional development to help build the capability within the Strategic Communication and Graphic Design Studio teams.
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Data Knowhow’s Lisa Cornish was engaged to be embedded as a visualisation and communication expert within the to be embedded within the Strategic Communication and Graphic Design Studio teams to first scope needs and requirements and build initial capability for standardised communication of data.
It was first important to create a data visualisation guide that would bring in information on corporate standards – including colours, fonts, icons and more – and apply this to the creation of graphics to support public engagement through social media. This involved consulting with a range of stakeholders to understand specific needs while ensuring outputs would be effective in communicating key messages.
Second was to research visualisation options available to ABS and selection which tool or tools would best support needs, including both customised and out-of-the box options. Ease of access, use and ability to be customised to meet the data visualisation style guide were important considerations. Power BI combined with a customised visualisation solution were selected to support ABS moving forward. Templates and samples were developed to support use of these tools.
A further important element was the sharing of knowledge. Group training was developed for visualizing data along with data storytelling. And Lisa was involved in day-to-day data communication projects to work one-on-one with staff to focus attention to data stories that could be relatable to their audience.
A data visualisation guide, templates, training documents and training presentations were provided to the area as part of this project.
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The data visualisation guide has been approved for corporate use, with the new style of green and coral enabling consistency in social media outputs. Social media staff have capability to take control of building visualisation, improving their ability to deliver outputs.
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