Best Practices - Katherine S. Rowell

Mekko Charts

Post author:Kathy Rowell
Post published:February 4, 2019
Post category:Best Practices Communicating Data to the Public Data Visualization Newsletters Tableau
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I’m a long (long)-time devotee of the iconic Marimekko designs and textiles. I have Marimekko clothes (I’m sure they’re considered vintage now), and in my daughter’s bedroom I splurged on…

Mental Models

Post author:Kathy Rowell
Post published:February 20, 2017
Post category:Best Practices Dashboards Data Visualization Newsletters
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Whenever I teach my "data visualization best practices" courses, I always include an introductory overview about mental models - an explanation of a person's thought process about how something works…

“Time is [Not] on My Side”: Using Time Efficiently When Developing Dashboards

Post author:Kathy Rowell
Post published:October 21, 2016
Post category:Best Practices Dashboards Newsletters
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In 1657, the French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal apologized for a very lengthy letter he had written thus: "This letter is so long only because I had no time…

The Hammock Chronicles (2016 Edition)

Post author:Kathy Rowell
Post published:September 1, 2016
Post category:Best Practices Communicating Data to the Public Dashboards Newsletters
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Long-time subscribers to this newsletter know that every August, my family and I retreat to Bustins Island in Casco Bay, Maine, where I commandeer the hammock and contemplate life (along…

My Secret Tip for Testing Data Visualizations

Post author:Kathy Rowell
Post published:April 1, 2016
Post category:Best Practices Communicating Data to the Public Dashboards
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This past Sunday my husband, Bret, our pup, Juno, and I headed out to Deer Island in Massachusetts Bay. We love this walk because of the fantastic views it affords…

David Bowie vs. Alan Gilbert

Post author:Kathy Rowell
Post published:February 26, 2016
Post category:Best Practices Know Your Audience Newsletters
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I recently watched Charlie Rose interview New York Philharmonic conductor Alan Gilbert (pictured at right). During the interview, Gilbert described how he slowly and in small increments moved the Philharmonic…

Love, Time, Environment

Post author:Kathy Rowell
Post published:September 25, 2015
Post category:Best Practices Etcetera Newsletters
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As my daughter Annie's tenth birthday approached, our friend Erik asked her what special gift she was hoping for. Without hesitation, Annie responded, "A crane." We all turned and looked…

Let This Chart Fall Off Your Radar

Post author:Kathy Rowell
Post published:May 15, 2015
Post category:Best Practices Graphs Newsletters
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Don't you just hate things that look really cool but simply don't work? You know: the fancy all-in-one kitchen gizmo that cuts nothing but your fingers, or the software that's…

“Lower is Better” – Flip the Display!

Post author:Kathy Rowell
Post published:April 17, 2015
Post category:Best Practices Graphs Newsletters
Post comments:1 Comment

Several years ago, we bought a house with a truly fabulous kitchen-high-end everything, including a German-engineered faucet that brought us to our knees trying to figure out how to turn…

Children Can Kill You

Post author:Kathy Rowell
Post published:March 20, 2015
Post category:Best Practices Graphs Newsletters
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Every time my daughter Annie would pull some heart-stopping, daredevil stunt in the swimming pool, on the ski slopes, or while roller-blading with her friends, I would hear two distinct…

Welcome to my newsletter and blog, Health and Healthcare Data Unleashed, a guide to understanding, presenting and using health and healthcare data, information and evidence. I’ve been writing and posting here since 2010 on a range of topics and resources I’ve encountered in my own data analysis and data visualization journey. You will notice a gap beginning in 2020 as I took time away to work on my book, Visualizing Health and Healthcare Data – I hope you’ll check it out!

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