Transform Your DATA STORYTELLING in just 3 Days
📅 5–7 October 2026 | 🕙 2–6pm UK time
From Chart-making to Sense-making
A 3-day live masterclass for analysts, designers, science communicators and consultants who want their insights to land. Learn how to turn complex data into visual stories people understand, remember and act on
Join the Masterclass:
Visual Storytelling
with Data, Leveraging AI
Most dataviz courses teach tools.
Others teach theory.
This masterclass teaches you how to think through any data communication challenge —giving you a repeatable, tool-agnostic process you can apply to any dataset, in any medium, for any audience.
Over three live, intensive days, you'll build fluency across the three pillars of great data communication: Design, Data, and Story.
You will also learn how AI can support:
• finding datasets
• exploring patterns and insights
• prototyping visual ideas faster
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Key info:
🎟️ Fee: £675 (about $890 USD)
🔥 £540 early access (first 4 sign-ups only – now SOLDOUT)
🎁 Bonus: All participants receive access to a curated collection of resources, tools, and references drawn from Valentina’s 20 years of professional practice.
📅 Dates: 5–7 Oct 2026
🕒 Time:
• 2–6 pm UK
• 3–7pm Central Europe
• 5–9 pm Dubai
• 9am–1 pm EST
• 6–10am PST
Living elsewhere? Use this timezone converter
💻 Format: 12 hours of online live interaction (no pre-recorded videos). Small and international cohort of like-minded people.
👥 Level: Tool-agnostic and suitable for professionals working with data or visual communication — from designers and analysts to data scientists and science communicators.
Is this course right for you?
If any of these feel familiar,
you're in the right place.
You know the subject deeply, but struggle to decide what the audience really needs to understand.
You default to familiar charts and templates because you are unsure what else to use.
You have a clear idea in your head. But somewhere between the idea and the presentation, it falls flat.
You simplify the data and it loses its truth. You keep the complexity and your audience loses the thread.
You know AI tools exist but you're not sure where they fit — or how to use them in the most effective way and without compromising the integrity of the work.
Beyond merely improving your charts, you seek to elevate your communication skills and build confidence.
You want to advance your career by becoming known for data driven work that not only stands out but also delivers clarity and impact.
Here's what others are saying
“This Masterclass was incredible–I loved every minute of it! Valentina structured the three-day course so thoughtfully that I left feeling like I had attended a month-long intensive. It struck the perfect balance between being informative and interactive”
–Samantha Darling
Global Communications Director, Walmart
“The resources and tools shared go well beyond traditional course material and are a real long-term asset. I recommend this masterclass warmly.”
–Maéva Vignes
Freelance Data Scientist
Meet Your instructor
👋 Hi, I'm Valentina D'Efilippo
I'm a designer, educator, and data storyteller — and I've spent over 15 years figuring out how to make complex information clear, honest, and hard to ignore.
I've designed BI tools, books, exhibitions, and interactive experiences. I've worked with teams at Spotify, Google, the UN, the NHS, and Pfizer. I've taught at The Guardian, the V&A, and Columbia Business School. And I've made every mistake you're probably making right now — which is why I know exactly where the gaps are.
This Masterclass isn't a collection of beautiful examples. It's a distillation of everything I've learned about how to think through a data communication challenge — from blank page to final output.
I run this programme privately for corporate teams most of the year. A few times a year, I open it to a small public cohort. This is one of those moments.
I can't wait to meet you online…
Teaching since 2014 for:
The Guardian · V&A · Columbia Business School
Corporate clients include:
Spotify · Google · Pfizer · UBS · OPEC · United Nations ILO · NHS · ECMWF
By the end of the three days, you will know how to:
Find the story: Identify what matters, frame the central insight and decide what your audience needs to understand.
Design for understanding: Use visual perception, hierarchy, colour, typography and composition to guide attention and reduce unnecessary complexity.
Move beyond default charts: Choose visual forms according to your message and purpose—not simply because they are familiar or available in your software.
Build a persuasive narrative: Structure information so that it moves logically from context to insight, meaning and action.
Use AI with judgement: Apply AI to research, exploration, synthesis and prototyping while recognising its limitations and preserving human decision-making.
Communicate with confidence: Use a repeatable process to explain and defend your choices to colleagues, clients and stakeholders.
ONLY 20 SEATS AVAILABLE
New knowledge
Examples, discussions and practical exercises that expand your thinking, elevate your practice and strengthen your confidence.
A practical toolkit
Repeatable frameworks, useful prompts and an extensive collection of curated resources to support your work long after the masterclass ends.
Direct feedback
Personal guidance on your work and thinking, with space to ask questions and apply the methods to your own challenges.
The Three Pillars of Data Communication
Strong data communication requires more than a well-designed chart. It brings together three interconnected skills: Data, Design and Storytelling
01
DESIGN / Mastering Visual Impact
We start where all good visual communication begins: the human brain. You will learn how layout, colour, typography and hierarchy guide attention and meaning.
Outcome: By the end of Day 1, you'll know exactly why some visuals command attention and others don't, and you'll have the language and instinct to start making that difference in your own work.
02
DATA / Beyond Charting Conventions
On Day 2, we move from passive chart-making to problem solving. You'll work through a step-by-step process for choosing the right visualisation for your data — whether it's numbers, categories, or qualitative insight — mastering the conventions, then learning when and how to go beyond them.
Outcome: You will learn how to visually translate both qualitative and quantitative data, pushing beyond standard templates while also mastering the effective use of standard charts.
03
STORY / The Art of Data Storytelling
On the final day, we bring it all together. You'll learn how to find the narrative inside your data, shape it for different audiences, and present it in a way that moves people from understanding to action.
Outcome: You will gain a clear overview of the process, an understanding of key digital tools for independent exploration, and the opportunity to apply your learning through collaboration with others.
In three focused days you will gain: a method, a toolkit and the confidence to communicate complex data clearly. These skills apply immediately to presentations, reports, dashboards and digital content.
Tool-agnostic, but clear about where AI fits
This is not a software course.
The principles you learn can be applied across presentations, reports, dashboards, editorial graphics, digital products and visualisations—regardless of the tools you use.
Throughout the masterclass, we will explore where AI can genuinely support the process, including:
- Understanding the limits of AI and how to avoid AI slop
- Differences between Projects, Custom GPTs, and Agents and when to use each
- Building repeatable workflows with AI
- Comparing tools for different tasks
- Connecting live APIs to bring real-time data into workflows
- Vibe coding a prototype to quickly test ideas
“Learning the art of visual storytelling with data has been a game changer. The Masterclass broadened and enriched our thinking about the visual stories we want to tell with our data. Helping us build a common visual vocabulary and skill set has transformed the way we work together to tell those stories.”
— Joey Fox, Managing Editor, SIPRI
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Many participants have successfully expensed this Masterclass through their business or employer’s learning budget. If that’s you, here’s an email template you can duplicate. If you’re passionate about joining but face financial constraints, you can apply for a diversity ticket, see the FAQ below.
This is a working masterclass, not a webinar
🎙️ Active learning
This is a live, interactive experience – no pre-recorded content that will catch digital dust! We'll tackle real challenges together, engage in hands-on exercises, and get real-time feedback.
🎨 gain Confidence AND a METHOD
You'll leave with a repeatable process — a way of approaching any data communication challenge, with any tool, for any audience. The frameworks transfer. The thinking sticks.
💬 learn from others
We keep the cohorts small (up to 20 people), because real learning happens in conversation, not lectures. You'll connect with an amazing international community of data professionals.
The cohort is limited to 20 participants. Make sure you get in before the doors close!
Before this workshop, I felt fairly competent at displaying data, but this session opened my eyes to myriad ways of telling engaging, accessible, and persuasive stories. I now have the tools to make my work truly impactful – an invaluable skill for helping people understand issues, make important decisions, and spurring them to action!
— Astrid Grindlay, Public Health Registrar, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Valentina's clear expertise in, and enthusiasm for storytelling via infographics and data visualisation helped to make her workshop delivery both informative and inspiring. The balance between information, practical assignments and collaboration across the group was excellent. I left the sessions excited to open up my sketchbook and to start putting learning into practice.
— Helen Strachan, Freelance bid and fundraising professional
Engaging, responsive, knowledgeable, and creative speaker... This course is incredibly worthwhile for all of us in public health to consider how we present and communicate science.
— Dr. Azza Elnaiem, Public Health Medicine Doctor, NHS
Valentina's workshop was thoughtfully designed, balancing instruction and application. Her talent and experience provide unique insights that are hard to come by. Best of all, it was fun!
— Samantha Winters, Senior Director of Strategy, Marketing & Analytics
Make your WORK impossible to ignore.
In three focused days you’ll gain the method, the vocabulary, and the confidence to turn complex data into clear visual stories — and understand where AI can accelerate the process.
“Valentina's Masterclass is a valuable investment for any product designer looking to enhance their skills in data visualization and storytelling—both of which are in high demand. I have expanded my understanding of design and its application to data storytelling, gaining practical advice on how to implement these skills in my projects.”
— Martin Loskin, Product Designer
FAQs
Who is this Masterclass for?
It's designed for professionals who work with data — analysts, scientists, researchers, consultants, UX and visual designers, creative directors, and communications professionals. No design background is required. Attendees come from various backgrounds and sectors.
What skill level do I need?
All skill levels are welcome. The Masterclass suits both those new to dataviz and experienced practitioners looking to build a more systematic approach. The principles are universal — you'll apply them at whatever level you're working at.
Is this a software training course?
No. The course is entirely tool-agnostic — the principles and frameworks work regardless of what software you use. That said, the programme includes a curated overview of relevant AI tools and dataviz software.
What format are the sessions?
Four hours per day, live on Zoom, over three consecutive days. Sessions include short breaks, hands-on exercises, group discussion, and real-time feedback. All sessions are recorded and available to participants for 30 days after the workshop.
Are diversity tickets available?
Yes — a small number are offered to support individuals facing genuine financial difficulty, including those in underdeveloped regions, those currently unemployed, or those returning to work after parental leave. Proof of eligibility is required. Get in touch at [email protected]
Can I expense this through my employer?
Many participants do. Here's an email template you can use.
Will there be future cohorts?Possibly — but format and pricing may change. Join the waiting list to be first to hear about future dates. Signup to the waiting list to stay informed about future classes.
What is your refund policy?
No refunds are available if you cannot attend. However, you will retain access to all course materials (and Zoom recordings for 30 days).
In the extremely rare event that the course is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, all attendees will receive a full refund. Refunds are limited to registration costs only; we are not liable for any other incurred costs.
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