https://janezhang.ca/ Recent content on Jane Zhang Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/work/mcures/ Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/work/mcures/ Ontario Ministry - Communications Photo by Frank Neufield Jane is a resourceful, multi-skilled team player who quickly made impactful contributions to our unit. Her curiosity, agility, and professionalism shine in every project - from coordinating high-level events with global and political leaders to launching major government initiatives and platforms. A data-driven communicator with expertise in social media, graphic design, and accessibility, Jane is an invaluable contributor whose work consistently elevates team outcomes. https://janezhang.ca/work/email-visualising-data/ Wed, 24 Jan 2024 11:32:52 -0500 https://janezhang.ca/work/email-visualising-data/ Launching the Visualising Data newsletter “Jane did more than just support me in this process of setting up a newsletter; she expertly led me through a complete evaluation of my marketing and business strategy. As a long-time freelancer, you develop the mindset of always doing everything yourself. It wasn’t until Jane challenged me to think differently and guided me through a structured methodology with exercises that illuminated my understanding of my brand, my proposition, my services and my customers. https://janezhang.ca/work/dvs-soti-survey/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/work/dvs-soti-survey/ Boosting responses to the State of the Industry Survey “Jane played a pivotal role in providing communications for Outlier 2024. She developed a well-structured and thoughtfully planned communication strategy, creating fabulous content for all our social media accounts. Her timing for communications, both before and during the conference, was impeccable. Her efforts significantly contributed to the success of the event.” - Jill Brown, Programs Director https://janezhang.ca/work/dvs-email/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/work/dvs-email/ Building an engaged email list for a non-profit “I had the pleasure of working with Jane when I was the Communications Director on the DVS board. As the Communications Manager, Jane is fantastic in driving new and existing projects, introducing cost-efficient technologies supporting a team with a diverse range of skills, and keeping DVS on track. There have been multiple times where Jane’s solutions, from building out audience-first approaches to automating a process, have really saved the day. https://janezhang.ca/work/dvs-iibawards/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/work/dvs-iibawards/ Information is Beautiful Awards communications Photo by the Data Visualization Society Client Overview Establishing data visualization excellence The Information is Beautiful Awards program has been recognizing data visualization works and creators for over a decade. This prestigious program has launched careers, set new standards, and created a repository of design inspiration. The professional association for data visualization The Data Visualization Society (DVS) is a 501c3 non-profit professional association with three key objectives: to nurture, advance, and celebrate the field of data visualizations (data viz). https://janezhang.ca/work/dvs-outlier/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/work/dvs-outlier/ Outlier Conference communications Victoria Ascue Photography for the Data Visualization Society Jane played a pivotal role in providing communications for Outlier 2024. She developed a well-structured and thoughtfully planned communication strategy, creating fabulous content for all our social media accounts. Her timing for communications, both before and during the conference, was impeccable. Her efforts significantly contributed to the success of the event. - Julia Hennelly, Outlier Director https://janezhang.ca/posts/co-op-ops/ Sat, 18 Oct 2025 08:50:16 -0400 https://janezhang.ca/posts/co-op-ops/ April 2025 marked the end of my academic term at Seneca studying public relations and corporate communications, and it also marked the beginning of my co-op placement at the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCURES). There are some 30 Ontario ministries that are part of the Ontario Public Service (OPS), employing over 60,000 public servants who develop policies and deliver public services. MCURES works in the area of higher education and research and includes functions such as: https://janezhang.ca/posts/seneca-prcc-semester-2/ Thu, 11 Sep 2025 20:31:39 -0400 https://janezhang.ca/posts/seneca-prcc-semester-2/ After 8 intense months, I finally completed the Public Relations and Corporate Communications program at Seneca! It’s one of my proudest achievements as I balanced 8 courses, job applications, and a part-time job. The second semester spanned from January to April and there was more at stake than the first semester as we geared up to find work for the summer. In this blog post, I’ll provide an overview of semester 2 courses and list the pros and cons of enrolling in work-integrated learning. https://janezhang.ca/posts/seneca-prcc-semester-1/ Sun, 29 Dec 2024 22:04:59 -0500 https://janezhang.ca/posts/seneca-prcc-semester-1/ December 10, 2024 marked the completion of my first semester at the Seneca Public Relations & Corporate Communications (PRCC) program. By then, I was breathless wrapping up four group presentations in the final two weeks. All sorts of emotions washed over me: relief, joy, pride, amazement, grateful. Above all else, I’m surprised I did it: a full-time program with seven courses packed with group projects where I had to learn to work with people I just met weeks before. https://janezhang.ca/posts/communications-not-marketing/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 22:37:05 -0400 https://janezhang.ca/posts/communications-not-marketing/ When someone asks me what I do, I say “communications”. Their eyebrows scrunch with confusion. So I clarify and say it’s like marketing. I have been studying Public Relations and Corporate Communications at Seneca Polytechnic for 2 months, and I regret to realize that I misunderstood the communications field. Communications is not marketing. Here’s why. Publics, not target audience Egg Farmers of Ontario don’t sell products to consumers. They lead the egg sector through promotion, education, and ensure egg farmers follow regulations. https://janezhang.ca/posts/new-era-learning/ Sun, 13 Oct 2024 00:17:04 -0400 https://janezhang.ca/posts/new-era-learning/ I am enrolled at Seneca Polytechnic’s Public Relations and Corporate Communications (PRCC) program in Toronto. It’s an intensive eight-month post-grad program. In the first semester, I am taking seven courses: Digital and social media: We learn about creating digital content for channels such as blogs and social media. Writing for public relations practitioners: Canadian Press style is considered industry standard and we learn to apply that when we write press releases, media advisories, media kits, and proposals. https://janezhang.ca/posts/16.-seneca-week-3/ Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/posts/16.-seneca-week-3/ Despite the tech available to us–AI, Grammarly, or autocorrect–these tools are still far behind what a master in the English language could offer. I’ve been using many tools to improve my writing this year and have been diligent about verb choice, comma placement, and sentence length. These tools have suggestions to improve clarity and conciseness, which have been helpful…but I am still not satisfied with the quality of my writing. https://janezhang.ca/posts/seneca-week-2/ Wed, 18 Sep 2024 07:34:03 -0400 https://janezhang.ca/posts/seneca-week-2/ Time flies—just three months ago, I was speaking to alumni and academic coordinators at public relations programs in Toronto; and now I am three weeks into the Public Relations and Corporate Communications program at Seneca Polytechnic College. A career in communications manifested by accident after years working in data visualization. In 2020, I felt done with making dataviz and knew it was time to do something else. Maybe I was tired, or needed a change…then the Data Visualization Society (DVS) posted a communications role on their LinkedIn. https://janezhang.ca/posts/get-off-learning-plateau/ Mon, 29 Jul 2024 17:03:30 -0400 https://janezhang.ca/posts/get-off-learning-plateau/ I started playing badminton at the beginning of this year to combat my sedentary lifestyle and improve my overall health. I enrolled in a beginner’s course for a few months at a community centre, which set me on track to acquire this sport as my new hobby. To date, I’ve been playing badminton every week, and lately twice a week. Just from playing with other players, I slowly improved my reflexes and game play. https://janezhang.ca/work/infogr8-email/ Tue, 23 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/work/infogr8-email/ https://janezhang.ca/posts/course-improved-my-writing/ Mon, 25 Dec 2023 09:08:56 -0500 https://janezhang.ca/posts/course-improved-my-writing/ It’s been so long since I started to feel actual hope while battling with terrible imposter syndrome in my communications career. When I am faced with the white blank page to write a newsletter or an announcement post, I have to fight every muscle fibre pleading me to flea. It was exhausting; my mind was seeped in self-doubt. I consumed so many courses and books, and even though I made some progress, the starting line was still within sight. https://janezhang.ca/posts/becoming-communications-professional/ Wed, 12 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/posts/becoming-communications-professional/ My boyfriend had a medical emergency a year ago, and I had to take over driving duties. I hate driving and only got behind the wheel when I had to. At first, I was so nervous on the road, my heart was beating very fast and my palms were sweaty. After three months of daily driving, something shifted, and I realized I was calm. What brought about this change? Around the same time, I had a lot of anxiety at work. https://janezhang.ca/posts/lessons-learned-everybody-writes/ Fri, 10 Mar 2023 21:55:51 -0500 https://janezhang.ca/posts/lessons-learned-everybody-writes/ An attempt to remember what I read from books Have you ever read a book and forgotten what you just read? It happens to me a lot and I don’t like how ineffective that feels. I value efficiency and reading a book takes up a big chunk of my time. Perfectionism gets the best of me and I eagerly try to soak up every word to jam as much knowledge as I possibly can in my head. https://janezhang.ca/posts/what-do-you-think/ Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/posts/what-do-you-think/ “What do you think? Try to have a thought of your own Baldrick. Thinking is so important, what do you think?” -Blackadder Series 2 Episode 2 “Head” During the Covid-19 pandemic, I was around people less and by myself more. Most of my time was spent inputting content into my brain (listening to podcasts, scrolling through social media, watching videos), but not enough of it was dedicated to output (writing or speaking). https://janezhang.ca/posts/what-is-marketing/ Mon, 22 Aug 2022 08:44:39 -0400 https://janezhang.ca/posts/what-is-marketing/ What is marketing? Marketing is a method to create conversion. Conversion is an interaction of mutual benefit (e.g. I subscribe to your newsletter to gain interesting knowledge, you gain an audience member). Marketing should ultimately lead to a means of profit, whether it’s direct through sales, or indirect through ads, affiliates and sponsors. Marketing is one component of a business plan that needs to be strategized. https://janezhang.ca/newsletter/ Thu, 03 Mar 2022 13:48:01 -0500 https://janezhang.ca/newsletter/ My newsletter is currently on hiatus. In the past, I have shared extensively about my career in data visualization. You can still read the past issues I’ve written. I might one day restart my newsletter. If I do, I will very likely focus on career development and small business. The way I’ve run my newsletter in the past is that subscribers always get an early release of my blog posts before it goes public, and a little extra content with some more personal thoughts about things. https://janezhang.ca/privacy-policy/ Sat, 26 Feb 2022 22:46:20 -0500 https://janezhang.ca/privacy-policy/ Last updated: March 03, 2022 This Privacy Policy describes Our policies and procedures on the collection, use and disclosure of Your information when You use the Service and tells You about Your privacy rights and how the law protects You. We use Your Personal data to provide and improve the Service. By using the Service, You agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy has been created with the help of the Privacy Policy Template. https://janezhang.ca/about/ Sat, 26 Feb 2022 22:44:49 -0500 https://janezhang.ca/about/ Hello! My name is Jane, I am based in Markham (right outside of Toronto), Canada. Currently, I am the Communications Manager at the Data Visualization Society, and I’m a full-time student at Seneca Polytechnic College studying in the Public Relations and Corporate Communications post-grad program. A brief overview of my career I spent the first couple of years pursuing data visualization design. One of my first jobs out of school was at Kantar, a global market research firm. https://janezhang.ca/success/ Sat, 26 Feb 2022 22:44:19 -0500 https://janezhang.ca/success/ Contact form submitted! Thanks for sending me a message. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. https://janezhang.ca/contact/ Sat, 26 Feb 2022 22:43:58 -0500 https://janezhang.ca/contact/ Use the form below if you want to connect with me to say hello or hire me for communications or marketing support. https://janezhang.ca/posts/failing-to-freelance-in-dataviz/ Tue, 28 Sep 2021 22:52:03 -0400 https://janezhang.ca/posts/failing-to-freelance-in-dataviz/ If I had to identify the exact moment I knew I would give up data visualization, it was probably when I started to resent it. By then, I had freelanced for a little over a year. There were many factors as to why freelancing didn’t work out for me and it’s complex to pin down. I’ve reflected on what happened to me for a long time, and I think it’s finally time I write about it. https://janezhang.ca/posts/why-im-learning-to-draw/ Mon, 26 Apr 2021 19:23:00 -0400 https://janezhang.ca/posts/why-im-learning-to-draw/ Looking at my past work When I take an honest look at my recent work, it looks very logical. It is made up of simple shapes that work together to communicate information. My recent work. Left: Tekken project. Right: The Food Your Grandmother Ate. I’ve always felt that something was missing in my work. I was hitting a wall and I just couldn’t figure out what it was. I could never pin it down. https://janezhang.ca/posts/ask-jane-data-viz/ Sat, 06 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/posts/ask-jane-data-viz/ Disclaimer This post was first published on November 2020. I try my best to update the writing on this post, but it’s not going to be the most up-to-date. Helpful resources If you are considering freelancing in data visualization, here’s a list of resources that might be helpful: How I Quit My Full-Time Job to Pursue a Freelance Career As a Data Visualization Designer (2019) – The first time I opened up about my career and how I started out independent. https://janezhang.ca/posts/celebrating-wins/ Tue, 26 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/posts/celebrating-wins/ An unhealthy perspective I was having a conversation with an old co-worker and we were catching up on life. I said I’ve put out some projects and was able to achieve small things ever since I became independent. And then, he said: “you need to celebrate!”. And I was confused, I didn’t think I did anything worth celebrating. To be honest, I was so shocked he said I should celebrate. And this is how I’ve been diminishing my progress in life for the past decade. https://janezhang.ca/posts/the-food-your-grandmother-made/ Tue, 12 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/posts/the-food-your-grandmother-made/ This is a post about a completed project. Click here to see it. Preserving culture and identity There were many reasons I started a data visualization project documenting my mom’s recipes. Our family is from Hunan province, which is known for 湘菜 (xiāng cài), Hunan cuisine. Hunan cuisine is spicy, colourful, and savoury. I am very proud of the Hunan food we eat, it’s delicious and rich in flavour. https://janezhang.ca/work/the-food-your-grandmother-made/ Tue, 12 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/work/the-food-your-grandmother-made/ Brief Problem being solved: For a very long time, I’ve had a fear of losing my culture. It’s an inevitable trend I see among my peers. I live in Toronto, it’s filled with many, many pockets of different cultures. People from all over the world come here. When people settle and start a family, their children will become distant with their heritage due to the environment they live in. https://janezhang.ca/posts/building-website-with-hugo/ Mon, 28 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/posts/building-website-with-hugo/ Why I left WordPress and GoDaddy I used to host my site on GoDaddy while using WordPress as my CMS (content management system). One day, my WordPress theme broke and my site wasn’t working properly. Everything looked off and it was infuriating. I have struggled with WordPress for many years and I finally lost my patience. When I had my first website built, I hired someone to help me put my website together and after that, I handled all the content management. https://janezhang.ca/posts/my-first-data-visualization-workshop/ Mon, 30 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/posts/my-first-data-visualization-workshop/ In September 2020, I ran my first data visualization workshop in Toronto. It was a fun and challenging experience. I learned a lot about what it was like to teach data visualization and how to give feedback. I was quite surprised at how there weren’t any resources that existed publicly on how to put together a data visualization workshop. The data visualization community pumps out a lot of content regularly, but I have yet to see one about how to create and run a workshop. https://janezhang.ca/posts/tekken-reinvent-process/ Thu, 03 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/posts/tekken-reinvent-process/ https://janezhang.ca/work/tekken/ Wed, 05 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/work/tekken/ Brief Overview: Tekken is a Japanese fighting game that has been around since the late 80’s. It continues to boast a strong community of players and remains competitive with other leading titles on the market. If you’ve never heard of Tekken before, the video below will give you an idea of what it’s like: Problem being solved: Many players learning the game have a hard time understanding how to build tactics and develop a gameplan. https://janezhang.ca/posts/tekken/ Mon, 03 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/posts/tekken/ This post is based on a completed project. see project here Inspiration from Final Fantasy Early 2020, I was watching the demo gameplay of Final Fantasy 7 remake for the PS4. I remember looking at the fight scenes and being amazed at how complex it all was. As I watched the fighting sequences, I was fascinated. Then, an idea popped up: Could I visualize the fighting mechanics of a game? https://janezhang.ca/posts/self-employed-make-a-living/ Sun, 31 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/posts/self-employed-make-a-living/ https://janezhang.ca/posts/guide/ Sun, 10 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/posts/guide/ What’s a data visualization style guide? Why and when is it needed? How do we create one? Ever since Amy Cesal wrote about them on Nightingale, I have deeply admired them. In the design world, brands typically have branding guidelines that help create a cohesive brand voice. Branding = identity, and it’s no different from a person’s personality. As people, we have personalities that are relatively stable and predictable. Your family and friends know what will make you happy, or what will make you upset. https://janezhang.ca/posts/freelance-dataviz/ Mon, 09 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000 https://janezhang.ca/posts/freelance-dataviz/