Data Visualisation & Storytelling in the Age of AI

Turn data into decisions. Learn how to communicate insights in the AI era.

This intensive two-week summer school provides students with the skills and confidence to transform complex data into clear, compelling visual stories that inform, persuade, and drive decision-making. The programme blends data literacy, visual design principles, storytelling frameworks, and artificial intelligence to help participants move beyond basic charts and dashboards. Students will learn how to design effective data visualisations, craft meaningful mnarratives, and responsibly leverage AI tools to accelerate analysis and storytelling. Through practical exercises and real-world datasets from retail, healthcare, and financial services, participants will progressively build towards an individual capstone project using a comprehensive coffee shop case study. No advanced technical background is required. The course is tool-agnostic and focuses on transferable thinking and design skills rather than software-specific instruction.

ACQUIRED SKILLS

  • Transform raw datasets into clear, meaningful charts and visuals
  • Choose the right visual format for different types of data and questions
  • Design professional-looking charts suitable for presentations and reports
  • Build data-driven stories that support decisions and recommendations
  • Use AI tools to explore data, improve visualisations, and test ideas
  • Critically assess AI-generated insights instead of blindly accepting them
  • Deliver a complete data storytelling project from problem definition to final presentation
  • You will leave with a complete data storytelling project for your portfolio

GENERAL INFORMATION

Course term: 
Available seats: 
Price: 
Category: 
Status: 
Deadline: 

03. 08. – 14. 08. 
0 
950 € 
Bussiness & Marketing 
Closed 
20.07.2026  

Course term: 03. 08. – 14. 08. 
Available seats: 0 
Price: 950 €
Category: Bussiness & Marketing 
Status: Closed 
Deadline: 20.07.2026 

DESCRIPTION

The course combines:

● Short lectures introducing key concepts

● Guided hands-on exercises using real datasets

● Group discussions and visual critique sessions

● AI-supported exploration and experimentation

● Individual coaching and feedback

● A final capstone presentation


Students are encouraged to use tools throughout the program (e.g. spreadsheets, BI tools, design tools, sketches, etc), as well as approved AI systems, to complete exercises and projects.


This course is ideal if you are considering careers in:

● Consulting

● Business analytics

● Marketing

● Strategy

● Startups

● Management

SCHEDULE


Day 1

The Language of Visual Communication ● History of visual communication and data ● Key definitions and concepts in data visualisation ● Examples of effective and ineffective visual encodings ● Visual critique and interpretation exercises


Day 2

Perception, Meaning, and Best Practices ● How humans perceive and interpret visual information ● Cognitive load and attention in data visuals ● Best practices for charts and dashboards ● Practical redesign exercises using a retail dataset


Day 3

Contextualising Data Storytelling Projects ● Defining problem statements, audiences, and objectives ● Frameworks for scoping data projects ● Translating business questions into analytical tasks ● Context-mapping workshop using a financial services case


Day 4

Design Fundamentals for Data Visualisation ● Layout, hierarchy, and visual structure ● Colour theory, accessibility, and contrast ● Simplifying complex data without losing meaning ● Hands-on design exercises using a healthcare dataset


Day 5

Tools, Workflows, and Introduction to AI ● Overview of data visualisation tools and platforms ● Comparing commercial, open-source, and AI-augmented tools ● Understanding where AI fits into modern data workflows ● Introductory AI-assisted insight and charting exercises


Day 6

AI for Data Analysis and Insight Discovery ● How large language models support analytical thinking ● Using AI to explore datasets and generate hypotheses ● Prompting versus context in analytical workflows ● Practical AI-assisted exploratory analysis exercises


Day 7

AI for Visual Design and Storytelling ● Using AI to critique and improve data visuals ● AI-supported narrative development ● Risks, limitations, and biases of AI-generated outputs ● Comparing human and AI storytelling approaches


Day 8

Building Narratives with Data ● Narrative structures and archetypes for data projects ● Creating flow, cadence, and emphasis in stories ● Designing for different stakeholder audiences ● Applying narrative techniques to real datasets


Day 9

Capstone Project Development ● Individual project work using a coffee shop chain dataset ● Applying visual design, storytelling, and AI techniques ● One-on-one coaching and iterative feedback ● Preparing the final presentation


Day 10

Capstone Presentations and Reflection ● Individual capstone presentations ● Peer and instructor feedback ● Measuring success in data visualisation projects ● Reflection, key takeaways, and next steps

<span class="kurz-detail-output" data-field="lecturer_kurz" style="display: contents;">Felipe<br>Rego</span>

LECTURER

Felipe
Rego

University of Sydney 
Lecturer and Entrepreneur

Felipe Rego is an AI, data science, analytics, and data visualisation specialist who helps organisations turn emerging technologies into practical business capability. His work focuses on applied AI, data strategy, analytics, business intelligence, and data storytelling, supporting organisations as they explore how to use AI responsibly, effectively, and with clear business purpose.

Felipe is also a global educator and speaker, delivering practical and engaging programs on AI literacy, AI for productivity, data visualisation, analytics, and storytelling with data. He works with professionals and leadership teams to build confidence in using AI tools, understanding AI opportunities and risks, and translating complex data and technology concepts into clear decisions and actions.

He is the author of Sketch Your Data, a unique sketchbook designed to help professionals plan and design impactful data visualisations and storytelling ideas. Felipe holds an M.Phil. in Electrical and Information Engineering from the University of Sydney, is a Cloud Engineer, and has served as an advisor to an Australian government department.

Literature

  • Rego, Felipe. Sketch Your Data: A Sketchbook to Help You Plan and Design Your Data Visualization& Storytelling Ideas! Sydney: Self-Published, 2024.
  • Knaflic, Cole Nussbaumer. Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals. Chicago: Wiley, 2015.
  • Yau, Nathan. Data Points: Visualization That Means Something. New York: Wiley, 2013.
  • Few, Stephen. Information Dashboard Design: Displaying Data for At-a-Glance Monitoring.
  • Tufte, Edward R. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Cheshire, CT: Graphics Press, 2001.

Course outline

COURSE GALLERY

CREDITS

You will receive an official Certificate of Attendance upon completion of your course. Please inform the organizing staff if you require any extra supplements, such as Transcript of Records. The student is eligible to receive up to 5 ECTS credits, however please follow the instructions here and consult the acknowledgment process with your university in advance.

ASSESSMENTS

– attendance in class 15%
– team assignment 40%
– individual assignment 35%
– exam 10% (optional, if required by home University)

COURSE TIME TOTAL 125 HOURS

– Course runs 2 weeks Monday to Friday 9:00-14:00
– Total time of in-class work = 50hours
– Preliminary assignment = 10hours
– Preparation = 65hours

PRICE

Course fee includes the course itself, application fee, study materials, afternoon/evening social activities and events, welcome and goodbye drink as part of the graduation party. Other expenses, such as meals, accommodation, insurance, personal expenses, public transportation ticket, extra activities (such as trips outside of town over the weekend and entrance fees), and required equipment (i.e. pencils, paper for illustrations) are not included in the price.

Please note, after the 30th of April 2026 there will be a late enrollment fee charged in the amount of 100EUR on top of the course fee.

Terms and Conditions – Cancellation fees

Costs of living in Prague

ACCOMMODATION

For accommodation options, please visit the dedicated page

PREREQUISITES

– No Coding Required
– Intermediate level of English (at least B1/B2)

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ANY QUESTIONS?

Feel free to contact our coordinator:

Andrea Josífková 
Coordinator

+420 777 879 192

info@europeansummerschool.com

Testimonials

Hithem Juaid

From Conflict to Consensus: Negotiation Skills for Business and Politics

The ESS 2019 in Prague was a great opportunity for me to meet and make a lot friends from all over the world. I had a professional workshop, great lectures in morning and an enjoyable activities in evening.

Max Strasser

Personal Development (ON CAMPUS)

Really cool experience. Visited two SummerSchools this summer and this one was by far the better one. Beside some really cool courses the two weeks are filled with leisure activities, which ensure that there is no stodgy minute. You get some views of prag, that a normal tourist wouldn't get so fast. Furthermore, you will meet new people from all over the world, which will make it an unforgettable trip for you. 10/10 ??

Linda Farinello

Advertising and PR

Summer school in Prague was a great experience, I really liked it and I enjoyed it. I recommend it to everyone, especially for the nice people you meet!

Sonia Roopra, UK

Business Management

I had the pleasure of undertaking the business management course in August 2021. I cannot recommend ESS enough! The activities schedule was structured perfectly, it was a great mix of it being both educational and enjoyable. All the staff are very knowledgeable and highly qualified. I really recommend this great experience to everyone. I feel grateful to have met lifelong friends from all over the world who I still keep in touch with to this day!


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