Data Visualization and Presentation Essentials Workshop

This three-day training combines two complementary skills that are essential for effective communication: data visualization and presentations. The first two days focus on data visualization and introduced attendees to the data design process. On the third day, participants shift to presentation skills, where they will learn practical strategies to design and deliver impactful presentations that communicate data and analysis with clarity.

Data visualization—the study of visually representing data—plays a crucial role in the work of researchers, scientists, analysts, and communication professionals. Yet visualization is often an afterthought, secondary to analysis, limiting how effectively insights are shared. In the first part of this workshop, attendees learn how to conceptualize, plan, and develop visualizations using only basic drawing tools and office supplies. Through collaborative exercises, participants explore methods, styles, and best practices for creating meaningful and beautiful visualizations that enhance understanding and engagement.

On day three, the focus shifts to presenting information. Even well-designed content can fall flat if the presentation is poorly structured or delivered. In this part of the workshop, attendees are introduced to a practical framework for planning, building, and giving better presentations. The course emphasizes slide design, message clarity, visual communication, and strategies for delivering more confident, persuasive talks.

By the end of the three-day program, participants will be able to:

• Learn how to increase message clarity and impact
• Identify different types, purposes, and structures of data visualizations
• Apply visualization best practices to increase clarity and impact
• Understand and apply the data visualization design process
• Begin developing their own visualization style
• Create more effective and compelling slide decks
• Improve how they communicate quantitative results and analysis
• Think critically about visual and narrative presentation choices
• Deliver presentations with improved confidence and effectiveness

This course is designed for anyone who works with data and wants to better visualize, present, and communicate their work, including:

• Government analysts, scholars, researchers, and data scientists seeking to improve how they convey results
• Communication designers and other creatives seeking to expand their data and presentation design skillset
• Publishers, content creators, and others who communicate information to diverse audiences

Participants should have basic drawing materials (paper, colored pencils or markers, pencil with eraser, and black pen), along with optional tools such as a ruler or tracing objects. For virtual attendees, a phone or scanner is helpful for uploading images, and access to spreadsheet software and the Miro online collaboration platform is recommended. For day three, participants should have Microsoft PowerPoint or equivalent presentation software.

Stefanie Posavec. Stefanie Posavec is a designer, artist, and author focused on creating playful, accessible, human-scaled approaches to communicating with data. Her work has been exhibited at major galleries including the V&A, the Design Museum (Designs of the Year 2016), Somerset House, the Wellcome Collection, Bletchley Park (all UK), the Centre Pompidou (Paris), and MoMA (New York), where her work is also in the permanent collection. Recently she undertook the book design and art direction of chart creation for the activist Greta Thunberg’s much-lauded The Climate Book. Her latest illustrated book (I am a book. I am a portal to the universe., co-authored with Miriam Quick) has received multiple accolades, including winning the UK Royal Society’s Young People’s Book Prize 2021. She has also co-authored two books that emphasize a handmade, personal approach to data: Dear Data and the journal Observe, Collect, Draw!

Jonathan Schwabish, PhD, PolicyViz. Jonathan Schwabish is a PhD economist who is passionate about helping people working with data improve the way they communicate their work to a wider audience. Founder of the data visualization and presentation skills firm, PolicyViz, and a Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute, a nonprofit research institution in Washington, DC, Schwabish helps nonprofits, research institutions, and governments at all levels improve how they communicate their work and findings to their partners, constituents, and citizens. Dr. Schwabish is considered a leader in the data visualization field and is a leading voice for clarity and accessibility in research. He has written four books on the various aspects of how to best visualize data including technical aspects of creation, design best practices, and how to communicate data analysis and research in more accessible ways.

Training scholarships are available for the Data Visualization and Presentation Essentials Workshop.

Summer 2026: The Data Visualization and Presentation Essentials Workshop will be a hybrid training that takes place live in person at Columbia University and livestreamed via Zoom for online attendees on July 6-8, 2026 from ~11:00am - ~3:00pm EDT. Please note this training is not a self-paced, pre-recorded online training.

"Both instructors were very informative and had plenty of expertise. They were engaging, friendly, and helpful. The course gave me the opportunity to think creatively about how we present our data." - Survey Coordinator at New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2025

"I always appreciate having multiple presenters, and the interaction and engagement that Jon and Stefanie brought to the session was outstanding." - Program Coordinator at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 2025

"I had a great learning experience. As a researcher, the ideas and skills learnt here will enable me to communicate my biological data in the most meaningful way." - Research Assistant Scientist at University of Florida, 2025

"Great journey into data visualization principles and decision process to obtain powerful data representation." - Postdoc at Columbia University, 2024

"This workshop highlighted the importance of simple details and adapting your design to convey your message to different audiences. Jon and Stefanie were great at responding to questions and providing feedback. I loved the final work, which showcased the uniqueness of the participants." - Research Assistant at University of Florida, 2024

"I am a scientist, and visualizing and communicating my data are one of the parts of my work that I really enjoy. The Data, Designed workshop has given me a stronger foundation and great tools that I am excited to use for the rest of my career." - Faculty Member at Case Western Reserve University, 2024

Registration Fee includes course material, breakfast, and lunch on training days. Course material will be available to all attendees during and after the workshop. Lodging and transportation are not included.

2026 Registration Category Rates: 

• ​​​Student/Postdoc/Trainee:
  • Early-bird rate: $1,095
  • Regular rate: $1,295
• Faculty/Academic Staff/Non-Profit Organizations/Government Agencies:
  • Early-bird rate: $1,295
  • Regular rate: $1,495
• Corporate/For-Profit Organizations:
  • Early-bird rate: $1,495
  • Regular rate: $1,695

$200 early-bird discount is automatically applied if you register before the May 15 deadline.  

• $200 Early-bird Discount: This is automatically applied if you register before the May 15 early-bird deadline.  

• 10% Columbia Discount: This is valid for any active student, postdoc, staff, or faculty at Columbia University. If paying by credit card, use your Columbia email address during the registration process to automatically have the discount applied. If paying by internal transfer within Columbia, see below.  

• 10% Mailman Alumni Discount: This is valid for any individual who graduated from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. To access the Mailman Alumni discount and receive a registration code, please email sharp_program@cumc.columbia.edu your graduation year and degree.  

• Group discounts are available for organizations sending 5+ participants. Please contact us directly at sharp_program@cumc.columbia.edu for more information. 

If paying by internal transfer within Columbia, submit this Columbia Internal Transfer Request form (link to form coming soon) to receive further instructions. Please note: filling out this form is not the same as registering for a training and does not guarantee a training seat.

If you would prefer to pay by invoice/check, please submit this Invoice Request form (link to form coming soon) to receive further instructions. Please note: filling out this form is not the same as registering for a training and does not guarantee a training seat.

Cancellation notices must be received via email at least 30 days prior to the training start date in order to receive a full refund, minus a $75 administrative fee. Cancellation notices received via email 14-29 days prior to the training will receive a 75% refund, minus a $75 administrative fee. Please email your cancellation notice to Columbia.Datadesigned@gmail.com. Cancellation notices must be received via email at least 30 days prior to the training start date in order to receive a full refund, minus a $75 administrative fee. Cancellation notices received via email 14-29 days prior to the training will receive a 75% refund, minus a $75 administrative fee. Please email your cancellation notice to Columbia.Datadesigned@gmail.com. Due to workshop capacity and preparation, we regret that we are unable to refund registration fees for cancellations less than 14 days prior to the training.  

If you are unable to attend the training, we encourage you to send a substitute within the same registration category. Please inform us of the substitute via email at least one week prior to the training so we can include them on attendee communications, gather registration details, and provide materials. Should the substitute fall within a different registration category (e.g., you are a faculty member and they are a postdoc), the credit card on file will be credited/charged respectively. Please email substitute inquiries to Columbia.Datadesigned@gmail.com. In the event Columbia must cancel the event, your registration fee will be fully refunded.