Understanding and visualising complex data sets for easy communciation.

Toitū Te Waiora was a workforce development council who helped improve community, health, education and social services sectors in Aotearoa. This involved identifying the skillsets that are needed and supporting standards setting and qualifications development.

The challenge was to interpret a large and complex data set and to visualise this in a way that would effectively engage key stakeholders and the general public, facilitating clear communication. This involved translating dense and technical information into captivating visuals. Working within an existing visual style added further constraints, requiring consistency while still improving clarity and usability. The project also operated under a tight timeline due to the client’s impending closure, the final stages were condensed, which placed additional pressure on delivery and decision-making.

My roles:

• Leading in studying data sets, providing guidance on correct communication

• Using existing styles to design layout

• Liaising with clients to understand hierarchy of important

• Creating graph styles

Opportunity

To create a legible engaging system to understand large complex data sets for the audience to understand and in turn change behaviour.

The brief presented an opportunity to design a visual data system that could transform numbers into meaningful insight, aiming to support both comprehension and engagement. My role involved leading the analysis of data sets, guiding how information should be communicated, and collaborating closely with the client to determine the most effective visual approaches. Imagery of the workers and children evokes connection and highlights the importance of the work for the community.

Outcome

The final system allowed the client to clearly understand and share their insights, turning previously inaccessible information into a usable resource that influences understanding and encourages behavioural change. This made it possible to initiate meaningful discussions that had not been achievable before. The client expressed strong appreciation for the outcome, and mentioned that the visualisations allowed them to have conversations about the data that they were not able to have before.