Case+study

**Evaluation: 15% of final mark** Nathan Yau – [|Global Life Expectancy Visualization]
 * CCT470: Case Study**
 * Assigned: October 13th**
 * Due: November 3rd**

//"There is a lack of reflection, critical or otherwise, in visualization. Once something has been published, it is usually considered done, and we move on to other things. We do not waste our time critically appraising our own and others' work – but we should."// – Robert Kosara, [|"Visualization Criticism - A New Way of Thinking about Visualization"]


 * Overview:** We've been looking at visualization projects all semester and reading how they utilize and interrogate datasets. Now each student in the group is tasked with writing an analysis of a visualization project of their choosing.


 * Exercise:** Each student will seek out a web-based visualization project that they find compelling—either technically, due to subject matter or ideally, both—and write a 750 word (max) analysis of the project. This analysis should address the following questions:
 * who designed the work and what was the intended audience?
 * what are the strengths and shortcomings of the visualization?
 * how effective is the visualization at communicating its underlying data?
 * how might the visualization be improved?

Feel free to discuss the aesthetics of the piece and any interactivity (switchable views or modes) as well. Please ensure to include a screen capture and link to the work. //Please do not select a project that has been one of the case studies discussed in class.//


 * Hint:** Feel free to select a project that is either related to data or an approach you'd like to explore on the final project or a project related to your seminar.


 * Submission Guidelines:** Instead of the usual printed submissions, I'd like this work to be posted directly on the wiki. Once you are done your case study create a page for it on the wiki – use the title of the project you are discussing as the name of your page and add a link to the navigation sidebar (predictably, under the 'Case Studies' heading). Please ensure this work is submitted on time.


 * Evaluation:** This work needs to be submitted on time as we'll be discussing the projects on November 10th. It is expected that you will come to class on the 10th having read all of your peers work and we will have an hour or so conversation on the selected projects. Your mark will be based on the case study (10 marks) and your participation in the ensuing conversation (5 marks). For the writeup I'll be evaluating the strength of your argument and style/grammar. Late penalties list ed on the syllabus will definitely applied to work not submitted on the 3rd – as MIA projects will impede our session the following week.