Data Lens— Revisualizing Charts & Graphs for Effective Data Storytelling (Part 1)
This article demonstrates the power of data storytelling through a case study. We’ll transform existing charts and graphs from Statista to highlight key insights more effectively.
Effective data storytelling relies on fundamental principles that can be applied to existing charts and graphs. These principles are particularly valuable when creating explanatory reports or dashboards.
Less is More: Prioritizing Key Elements in Data Visualization
Data visualization aims to present information clearly and effectively. While it’s important to highlight key points, removing distractions that could confuse your audience is equally crucial. Here’s how to achieve this balance:
- Eliminate Clutter: Clutter consists of unnecessary visual elements that occupy space without adding value. Remove them to maintain focus.
- Provide Essential Context: Your audience needs background information to grasp your message, but too much can be overwhelming. Strike the right balance to offer just enough context.
- Highlight the Message: Identify the critical information necessary for understanding your main point. Anything else should be considered for removal. Here are some specific tips:
- Prioritize Important Data: Not all data points are equally significant. Focus on those that tell your story and eliminate the rest.
- Summarize When Needed: If detailed information isn’t essential for the audience to understand the big picture, consider summarizing it.
- Edit Ruthlessly: Be honest with yourself. If removing an element doesn’t impact your message, get rid of it. Avoid getting attached to elements just because they look nice or took time to create. If they don’t support your core message, they’re distractions that should be eliminated.
Case Study
This case study will examine four graphs sourced from Statista. We will compare the original graphs with revisualized versions that highlight key market insights.
As of May 31, 2023, Nike operated 1,032 retail stores globally, a slight decrease from the previous year. The United States accounted for nearly 370 of these stores. Nike, headquartered in the United States, is a global leader in athletic footwear and apparel. The company employs over 83,000 people and operates more than 1,000 retail stores worldwide in 2023. Nike’s success is largely attributed to its extensive marketing campaigns featuring celebrity athletes, professional sports teams, and college programs.
The original column chart above shows the total number of Nike retail stores worldwide from 2009 to 2023. We want to emphasize the most recent count of Nike’s global stores compared to US stores, which is from May 2023. By moving everything else to the background and adding the data of Nike’s US stores, we can highlight the year we want the audience to focus on.
As of the fourth quarter of 2023, Spotify reported having 236 million premium subscribers worldwide, marking a significant increase from the 205 million subscribers recorded in the same quarter of 2022. This substantial growth highlights the rapid expansion of Spotify’s subscriber base in recent years. Since early 2019, the number of premium subscribers has more than doubled, reflecting the platform’s rising popularity and successful strategies in attracting and retaining users. This consistent upward trend underscores Spotify’s dominance in the music streaming industry and its ability to adapt to changing market dynamics and consumer preferences.
To better visualize Spotify’s subscriber growth over the past nine years, we will replace the column chart with a line graph. This will clearly illustrate the platform’s consistent growth trajectory, culminating in a 15% year-over-year increase in subscribers during Q4 2023.
The percentage of uninsured Hispanics in the US dropped to a historic low of 19% in 2023 (national average: 9.1%). This decrease aligns with the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) expansion of health insurance access. However, the 2017 repeal of the ACA’s individual mandate might be contributing to a recent rise in uninsured Americans overall.
The original graph overcomplicates the data by including multiple demographic groups. To focus on the Hispanic uninsured rate, we’ll create a simpler visualization eliminating unnecessary information and comparing Hispanic and national averages.
Oil prices have been extremely volatile over the past decade. This instability is largely due to the oil market’s sensitivity to supply and demand fluctuations. Factors such as the economic growth of countries like China and India, the rise of fracking, and global events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have significantly impacted oil prices.
To identify major events driving significant oil price spikes, we will analyze price fluctuations between 1976 and 2024. Our focus will be on the three peak periods: 2008, 2010–2013, and 2022. To emphasize these key points, the revisualized line chart will feature only three markers corresponding to these peak years.
When creating visualizations, I rely on coolors.co for color inspiration. Their platform offers a variety of search options, allowing me to discover different color schemes and select the ideal combination that complements my reports and dashboards.
Thank you for reading!
I hope this case study provided valuable insights. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
For those interested in exploring more data storytelling and data visualization content, I consistently create such content on my Patreon and LinkedIn.
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