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Why Storytelling with Data Visualization is Important

Why Choose Data Visualizations over Text or Numbers Alone?

By Praveen GnanaselvamPublished 4 years ago 3 min read
Why Storytelling with Data Visualization is Important
Photo by The New York Public Library on Unsplash

A story is a sequence of events that happen in a particular order. We tell stories to other people so they can understand what happened, but we also tell them to ourselves so that we can remember what happened. Stories are important because they help us make sense of our past and plan for our future, as well as understand how other people think and feel.

Data is information, knowledge, or facts collected for analysis or used in an argument. Data can be anything from numbers to text, images, or sound recordings. Data is often used when telling a story because it helps us see things from another perspective and provides context for the events that have taken place.

Why Storytelling is Important?

Storytelling is an art that has been around for centuries. It has the power to transform ideas into a narrative and make them memorable. The same is true for data visualization and data-driven storytelling. Data visualization enables us to see patterns in data and spot trends that are otherwise difficult to notice when looking at numbers alone. Data-driven storytelling can be used as a powerful tool to communicate the meaning of those trends and patterns.

The importance of storytelling with data is not new, but it’s becoming even more relevant as we move into a world where big data dominates our lives.

What is Data Visualization?

Data Visualization is a way to make data more accessible. It is a visual representation of information that tells a story.

Data visualization is not just about presenting data, it’s also about how you present it. The goal of data visualization is to tell the story as clearly and concisely as possible with the best use of design and color. A good data visualization design should be easy to read, informative, and aesthetically pleasing.

It can be challenging to visualize complex concepts in a meaningful way that will make sense for your audience. Data Visualization design requires an understanding of what you want to say and how you want to say it as well as an understanding of your audience’s needs.

However, there are some basic guidelines that should always be followed:

1️⃣ Keep it simple: The best way to design a good infographic is by keeping it as simple as possible while still displaying the most important information.

2️⃣ Use appropriate visualizations: There will always be exceptions, but generally speaking, use charts sparingly and only when they provide a clear benefit over other types of graphics (e.g., bar charts for showing comparisons between different groups).

3️⃣ Use color effectively: A good rule of thumb is to use no more than three colors in any given graphic and use them carefully as accents rather than as focal points.

Why Choose Data Visualizations over Text or Numbers Alone?

When you have a lot of data or numbers, it can be difficult to show your audience the point you are trying to make. Data visualization is a way to make your points more clear and easier for your audience to understand.

Data visualization is an important tool in storytelling with numbers and data. It can be used as a standalone visual or as an accompaniment to the text, but it has several benefits that text alone cannot provide.

One of the most important benefits of using data visualization is that it allows the user to explore the data on their own terms. By showing multiple perspectives on one graph, the user has more control over what they see and how they see it than if they were just reading about the same information in text form.

Reason #1 — You’re not the only one who can read the text!

If you’re not a designer, the best way to make your point of view visible is to show it. The book, You Are Not So Smart by David McRaney, points out that we are visual creatures, and we process information better when it is in a visual form.

Visuals are the most powerful way to share an idea or story and can help you get your point across more effectively. In order to make our point of view visible, we need to create a visual representation of it. This representation can take many forms: images, videos, or infographics.

Reason #2 — A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!

In a world where people are constantly bombarded with information and data, it is important to take a step back and visualize the information. A visualization is a powerful tool that helps readers understand the story better. It also helps them remember the content better.

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it’s only as good as the words that accompany it.

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About the Creator

Praveen Gnanaselvam

Novice Writer | Product Manager | Freelance Artist | Data Enthusiast | Coffee Nerd

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