Data Visualization: Turning Numbers into Stories
Data Visualization: Turning Numbers into Stories Numbers tell facts, but visuals tell the story. A clear chart or map helps people grasp trends, compare options, and make better choices. Good visuals are not about decoration; they guide attention and support understanding at a glance. What makes a visualization effective? Clarity: the chart should be easy to read without extra effort. Accuracy: axes, units, and scales must be correct. Relevance: it answers a real question, not every detail. Context: a short caption or note helps the reader interpret what they see. Tell a story, not just a chart Start with a question: what happened, when, and why should we care? Then pick a chart type that fits the data and the message. A line chart shows change over time; a bar chart compares values; a map shows differences by place. Keep labels simple and add a one-sentence takeaway to frame the result. ...