About Communicating and Using Data
Overview of IPA’s data communication resources, covering how to turn analysis into clear messages, design principles for visualization, chart selection, dashboards that drive decisions, and using evidence for impact.
Sound analysis does not speak for itself. These pages cover the communication side of data work: defining the message, choosing the right visual form, and designing outputs that lead to decisions rather than merely displaying numbers.
What You Will Find Here
TipFrom Analysis to Message
- Communicating with Data - Defining the objective, identifying an audience’s needs, and a WHO / WHAT / HOW framework to apply before choosing a format
- Turning Data into Impact - Why sound data does not automatically change decisions, and what closes that gap
TipDesigning Effective Visuals
- Data Visualization Principles - Decluttering, human perception, the data-ink rule, and responsible color
- Choosing the Right Chart - A decision reference for matching chart types to messages: table versus graph, comparisons, and maps
- Dashboards for Decisions - Designing dashboards that start from the decision, use actionable metrics, and read in five seconds
Getting Started
New to communicating with data? Start with Communicating with Data to frame your message, then use Choosing the Right Chart when you build your next visual.