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 World Economic Outlook blog. It features usual updates on Global Economy Projections for 2025, across the regions and countries. A corresponding chart is provided below to accompany 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 is talking about the 2025 Annual Growth projections and their evolution over time. The author’s main point is to compare Regions and how their projections evolved. The author uses a Line Chart. This is correct because line charts are the most frequent charts to show something trending over time. The chart displays the data. But the chart itself has too many elements 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 – I would clearly separate the color for “high-growth” regions vs. “low-growth” so that your can quickly spot the respective groups.
• Declutter the Y axis – You can remove both Y axis because they are not necessary to tell the story. If you put the first and last % on the chart – you are pointing audience’s attention to the “direction” of the line to indicate if the growth projections got better or worse over time
• Add Labels where needed – I suggest moving the Legend to the right side. This placement helps people easily understand what the numbers refer to. For better visualization, use the same colors as the bars. I would add the RED and GREEN arrows to indicate the change of the growth projections.
• Add a reference point – I would add the WW growth number to indicate what Regions are growing above and below the global average
• 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.