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 Canary Media blog. It features a topic on Energy generation from Solar and Wind versus others. A corresponding chart below accompanies the article.

Here, we are not very interested in the topic itself. We focus more on the visual and the story it wants to tell. Note that there is a difference between reading a whole article to understand context. Presenting the idea in front of an audience is a different skill. A full article sometimes explains what you can see on the chart. It is another challenge when you have just you and your slide in front of an audience. The way you show your points will differ. The important thing is: Data Storytelling is everywhere.

The setting

This article talks about the TOP countries generating more than 30% of their energy from Wind and Solar. The author’s main point was that some of the countries generate twice the world average of Wind and Solar energy. This is for the year of 2024. The author uses a 100% Stacked Bar Chart, which is correct because we are discussing Component comparison. The chart displays the data. But the chart itself is too bare and does not align with Tufte’s data-to-ink ratio. Thus, I would suggest the following adjustments to enhance the message and incorporate more visual elements. Practice these Data Visualization skills to become fluent and progress faster in your career.

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

• Isolate the “story” with vivid Colors. Depict wind in Blue. Solar should be as close to Orange as possible. Both of them need your immediate attention. Wind should be visible in the chart. Solar should also stand out separately. This way, you can understand the share of each individual.
• Declutter the X axis – You don’t need all the tenths of %. Reduce the clutter, focusing on direction rather than precise numbers.
• Add Labels where needed – I would suggest doing two things here. One, move the Legend over the first bar so that folks can easily understand what Wind, Solar, and Other are. For better visualization, use the same colors as the bars. And then, second, I would add the WW average as a Benchmark. This would demonstrate how far these countries are behind those of WW.
• Add a Telling Title – When you read the title, you should immediately grasp the message. This allows you to easily follow along in the article if you are more interested in the details.
• Add Coloring to the Headlines, too, so that you can associate the verbal narrative with the visual.

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. There are multiple views of the same story; you need to select the one that best suits you.

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.

You can download the free Chart Decision Tree and Visual Compare Guide.