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Digital Innovation and Transformation

Data Storytelling and Visual Communication

Data only creates value when people understand it and act on it. This course teaches professionals how to turn analysis into compelling stories, choose effective visualisations, design clear slides and dashboards and present insights persuasively to different audiences.

5 days Classroom or live online English
Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants
Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

Download course PDF
Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Good analysis is often ignored because it is poorly communicated. This course helps you present data in a way that engages decision-makers and drives action.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

  • Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
  • Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
  • Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.
Course methodology

How you will learn.

The course is practical, with chart redesign exercises, storyboard workshops and presentation practice with feedback.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Understand audience needs and decision context
  • Structure insights into a clear narrative
  • Select appropriate charts and avoid misleading visuals
  • Design clean, focused slides and dashboards
  • Use annotation and emphasis to highlight insights
  • Present data stories confidently
Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

  • Analysts and data professionals
  • Managers presenting performance information
  • Consultants
  • Finance and marketing professionals
  • Researchers
Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

  • Narrative structure
  • Chart selection
  • Visual design
  • Insight communication
  • Presentation skills
  • Audience analysis
Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Why Data Stories Matter

  1. 09:00–09:54From data to decisions
  2. 09:54–10:48Audience and context
  3. 10:48–11:00Common communication failures
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Common communication failures (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Story structure
  7. 13:06–14:00Exercise: Analysing presentations

Day 2Choosing Visuals

  1. 09:00–09:54Chart types and uses
  2. 09:54–10:48Comparisons, trends and distributions
  3. 10:48–11:00Misleading visuals
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Misleading visuals (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Tables versus charts
  7. 13:06–14:00Lab: Redesigning charts

Day 3Design Principles

  1. 09:00–09:54Clutter reduction
  2. 09:54–10:48Colour and emphasis
  3. 10:48–11:00Annotation
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Annotation (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Slide design
  7. 13:06–14:00Workshop: Slide redesign

Day 4Building the Story

  1. 09:00–09:54Storyboarding
  2. 09:54–10:48Big idea and key messages
  3. 10:48–11:00Sequencing insights
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Sequencing insights (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Recommendations
  7. 13:06–14:00Exercise: Storyboard

Day 5Presenting

  1. 09:00–09:54Delivery techniques
  2. 09:54–10:48Handling questions
  3. 10:48–11:00Dashboards versus presentations
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Dashboards versus presentations (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Feedback and iteration
  7. 13:06–14:00Capstone: Data story presentation

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Singapore 9 Nov - 13 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
£2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 9 Nov - 13 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
London 23 Nov - 27 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 23 Nov - 27 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Dubai 7 Dec - 11 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 7 Dec - 11 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 14 Dec - 18 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 14 Dec - 18 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 11 Jan - 15 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 11 Jan - 15 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Rome 18 Jan - 22 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 18 Jan - 22 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Paris 25 Jan - 29 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 25 Jan - 29 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Istanbul 8 Feb - 12 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 8 Feb - 12 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 22 Feb - 26 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 22 Feb - 26 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Singapore 8 Mar - 12 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 8 Mar - 12 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
London 22 Mar - 26 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 22 Mar - 26 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Cape Town 29 Mar - 2 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 29 Mar - 2 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Dubai 12 Apr - 16 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 12 Apr - 16 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 26 Apr - 30 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 26 Apr - 30 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 10 May - 14 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 10 May - 14 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Vienna 17 May - 21 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,940.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 17 May - 21 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Paris 24 May - 28 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 24 May - 28 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Istanbul 14 Jun - 18 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 14 Jun - 18 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 21 Jun - 25 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 21 Jun - 25 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Singapore 12 Jul - 16 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 12 Jul - 16 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Barcelona 19 Jul - 23 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,840.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 19 Jul - 23 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
London 26 Jul - 30 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 26 Jul - 30 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Dubai 9 Aug - 13 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 9 Aug - 13 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 23 Aug - 27 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 23 Aug - 27 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 13 Sept - 17 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 13 Sept - 17 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Paris 20 Sept - 24 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 20 Sept - 24 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Cape Town 27 Sept - 1 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 27 Sept - 1 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Istanbul 11 Oct - 15 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 11 Oct - 15 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 25 Oct - 29 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 25 Oct - 29 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Singapore 8 Nov - 12 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 8 Nov - 12 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Rome 15 Nov - 19 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 15 Nov - 19 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
London 22 Nov - 26 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 22 Nov - 26 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Dubai 6 Dec - 10 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 6 Dec - 10 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 13 Dec - 17 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 13 Dec - 17 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon UK certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon UK programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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