At Yale, Dona studied information design with renowned professor and author Edward Tufte. After eight years as business graphics editor at The New York Times, she headed the information graphics department at the The Wall Street Journal, where she was responsible for setting the graphics standard for the newspaper, making visual sense of complex data for millions of readers.
Today, Dona serves as Strategy Director of Information Design at Siegel+Gale, a brand strategy firm and pioneer in simplified customer communication. She lives in New York City with her family.
“An essential reference for anyone who needs to effectively convey quantitative information using graphs. Everyone will learn something from reading this book.”
“Dona Wong’s outstanding new book artfully blends lessons on data analysis and graphic design. She shows us how to make our complex, confusing graphs and presentations both simple and powerful.”
“I had the great pleasure of hearing Dona Wong speak at a National Press Club event in October 2009. Afterward I couldn’t decide whether to try to hire her to counsel our clients on effective, state-of-the-art information design, book her at the Improv, or ask her to headline my kid’s birthday party. I laughed, I cried, it was better than ‘Cats.’ This woman knows how to educate and entertain at the same time. Talk about energy and charisma. Wow.”
Whether you work in marketing, finance, medicine or another field, the ability to express yourself in the language of graphics is becoming a critical job skill. In our increasingly data-driven world, you have to convey your message visually, whether it is a PowerPoint show, charts and graphs in an annual report, or a budget illustration. “The Wall Street Journal to Information Graphics” is a step-by-step guide to effective visual communications. Read it to learn how to analyze data, use colors to your advantage and choose the right chart form. Ultimately, the book gives business professionals and students the tools – and the confidence – to control the message and communicate with decision makers in the most effective way.
Learning the ABCs of graphics
Most people try to use graphics to enliven a critical presentation. The irony is that we often let the software do the thinking for us. Every graphic is an opportunity to communicate and influence your decision maker. Why leave such an important task to the software default settings? Following a few basic rules will enable you to effectively engage and connect with your audience. Read More
“Great presentation. You are a rock star!”
As in creating any communications piece, attention to clear mechanics, simple style and artistry is key to designing good information graphics. Yet 99 percent of presenters make charts and graphics on the fly, right before show time. Read More
Computer technology has helped well-meaning professionals produce reams of bad charts
However, technology doesn’t stop us from making bad graphics. It can’t answer such essential questions as:
Dona Wong is available to speak at conferences and university events. Find out more