What to expect?

Let’s examine a practical application of basic Data Visualization concepts and Data Storytelling. We will look at one existing publicly available chart on the internet, preferably each week. You can take these lessons to your world of Data Storytelling. Apply them at the office or home when persuading your spouse about spending habits :-).

Data Storytelling Example

Our example will be a chart from the IMF Blog website. The chart is from an article about “Countries That Close Gender Gaps See Substantial Growth Returns.” Don’t get scared by the topic. It’s irrelevant. The Data Storytelling tips are.

The Setting

The article explains a fact. Narrowing the gap between the share of men and women who work is one of the very important reforms. Policymakers can make this to revive economies. The chart itself is generally telling the story. Nonetheless, I would still make the next adjustments to further reduce ‘noise’ and increase visual element.

Further enhancements to the chart to improve the Data storytelling should be:

• Reduce the white space – I generally like white space to project cleanness but this chart has a LOT of white
• No need to have Y axis and Gridlines – If you keep the data labels above each column, you don’t need the Y axis and the Gridlines
• Add the % sign to the data labels – and yes, you indicated in the legend that it is a %, but generally it is better if you can to add the signs like % or $ or bps into the charts to make it clear
• Add coloring to the sub-headlines too – so that you can clearly associate the verbal narrative to the visual
• Swap the striking red with subtle red – as the key message is that the narrowing gap offsets the pandemic losses – hence I kept the BLUE as the dark contrasted color that stands out

An alternative result after application of a few concepts of Data Visualization:

Summary

Review the simple concepts for clear Data Storytelling. Keep practicing. You can do wonders—not only for the Visualizations but also for your Data Storytelling and professional career.

If there is a chart you wish me to review, just let me know. I can give some thoughts on revision. Please contact me via the contact form.

You can use the Chart of the Week tag to see other examples.