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Turning raw data into striking visuals is called data visualisation and it's a hot new area for young graduates with a good eye, technical nous and an fascination for figures.
How do you get into this fast-moving area? One way is to learn on the job; the other is to take a postgraduate course.
There is an immense variety of courses on offer from technical ones, involving a great deal of computer science, to design ones that teach you about typography and colour.
Swansea University's advanced computer science with specialisation in visual computing MSc is at the technical end of the spectrum. Students on the course learn, for example, how to transform scientific data such as weather patterns into something that is visually interesting, interactive and informative.
Students also learn computer pattern and vision recognition, according to Xianghua Xie, associate professor in computer science at Swansea. They can take either a taught or a research master's degree depending on how much original research they want to do.
The Bartlett School of Architecture at UCL runs a specialist research master's, an MRes, in advanced spatial analysis and visualisation. The course has been going two years and is aimed at architects, geographers and designers with an interest in emerging computer technologies.
"We teach them a suite of visual tools and technologies in mapping, geographic information systems, 3D design and data visualisation," says Dr Martin Austwick, lecturer at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis.
"We take people who are interested in technology and want to know more about space or people who are interested in space and want to know more about technology."
Students wanting more mainstream courses could head for the University of Reading or the London College of Communications.
Reading's MA in information design emphasises the needs of the people who will be using the data. "We are very practically focused," says Alison Black, Reading's professor of user-centred design. "All students do practical projects but they also learn the history of typography and graphic communication."
Switching careers
At the London College of Communications you can take either a postgraduate certificate or a postgraduate diploma in design for visual communication as well as a masters. Many of the students are people switching career or wanting to know about visual communication for their own specialisms, according to Tony Pritchard, the course leader.
One student was a senior policy adviser for the Home Office who took the master's part-time to improve the Home Office's stop and search website.
If you simply want to expand your mind you can sign up for the MA in information experience design at the Royal College of Art. It lasts two years and is a new course. "It is about transforming information into experiences through design," says Kevin Walker of the RCA.
I studied industrial design in Italy and came to London because I was interested in continuing my studies in visual communication. The course at LCC taught me the basics of graphic design and the theory of visual communication. During the course, I developed an interest in information design.
I would recommend the course to anyone. I graduated with a solid foundation in visual communication and infographics. Once you have learnt the principles and the theory, you can apply them to any medium. In fact, despite graduating with a predominantly print portfolio, I found work in the digital sphere.
After working as an interactive designer for various global brands, I set up my own company in 2011 to work freelance. My practice covers anything from interactive installations to apps and projections. In 2013, I published The Infographic History of the World with James Ball, data-journalist for the Guardian.
I love London's vibrant design community and feel lucky to work in data visualisation.
(Source: TheGuardian)
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