Week 10 - 12 | MA Data Visualisation Term 1






Through the learning experience from Week 10 to Week 12, I have gained a clearer understanding of academic writing conventions. Although I had some preliminary knowledge during the pre-sessional course, it was rather vague. The Academic Support sessions significantly deepened my understanding of essay structure and the Harvard referencing system. Additionally, by observing the graduation project process of GMD student Bradz over the past few weeks, I have gained valuable insights into the workflow and implementation of a final major project. During this period, I also began planning for this semester’s Work-in-Progress Show and conducted initial data collection and visualization related to wind power generation in Europe.

Work-In-Progress Show




In this work-in-progress show, I was not only able to observe my peers’ design outcomes, but also gained deeper insights into their thought processes and technical approaches to data collection, analysis, and visualisation. By engaging with both the exhibited works and the designers themselves, I learned a range of visual communication techniques — including the strategic use of colour, graphic composition, and interactive elements to enhance narrative clarity and foster greater audience engagement.

This experience also prompted me to reflect on the critical role of data visualisation in contemporary news media. In newspapers and digital news platforms, data visualisation has become a vital tool for conveying complex information in a more accessible and compelling manner. It improves the readability of content and strengthens readers’ comprehension and retention of key issues. Leading outlets such as The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ interactive charts and visual narratives to unpack topics ranging from politics and economics to climate change, transforming abstract data into tangible and engaging stories that promote public awareness and transparency.

These reflections have not only deepened my understanding of data visualisation as a discipline, but have also inspired me to integrate narrative structures and visual strategies from journalistic practices into my own future design work, with the aim of enhancing the communicative and social impact of my projects.



Reading










In this week i read Katharine Harmon’s You Are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps of the Imagination, it explores the map as a medium for personal narrative and subjective experience, challenging the conventional understanding of cartography as purely objective and spatial. The book showcases a wide range of experimental works by artists and designers, illustrating how maps can visualize memory, emotion, and imagination. For students and practitioners in data visualization, it offers a compelling reminder that visualization is not only a tool for representing facts but also a powerful means of constructing meaning and evoking human connection.