Data Visualization Is Crucial for Understanding and Combatting COVID-19

As people, institutions, and governments continue to react to COVID-19, data visualization has emerged as one of the most critical tools for the moment. Data visualization can help public health officials and governments track the spread and movement of the coronavirus; it also helps people understand the threat that COVID-19 poses and the steps they can take to combat it.

One chart in particular has helped popularize the concept of “flattening the curve.” Andy Krackov wrote about the widely shared graph that illustrates this idea—that cancelling events and self-distancing saves lives and limits the spread of the coronavirus. In addition to educating viewers about actionable steps to curtail COVID-19, the visualization teaches us a lot about what makes a data visualization successful in the first place.

The stakes for data visualization are especially high when we are communicating information about a pandemic. Amanda Makulec wrote “Ten Considerations Before You Create Another Chart About COVID-19,” which includes some guidelines to help practitioners #VizResponsibly.

Erin McCoy put these ideas into perspective with “For Public Health Organizations, Data Visualization Is Not a Choice.” She breaks down some of the most effective visualizations used in the public health sector to show why “accurate, high-quality data visualization is, in many cases, the most responsible and effective way to share information and educate people.”

Nightingale will continue to cover COVID-19 and the Data Visualization Society’s members will continue to apply their expertise toward educating people and combating the spread of the coronavirus.

If you want other topics to read about while practicing social distancing, Jason Forrest continued his analysis of the International System Of Typographic Picture Education (ISOTYPE) and its impact on modern information design.

David Pires recapped a discussion from DVS Slack about whether the word “Dashboard” has lost its value. The term once represented the cutting edge of data viz, but its meaning is more muddled today. What does Twitter think?

Christopher Lanoue wrote about the process of “Building the UK Political Atlas,” an application designed to help voters in the United Kingdom stay informed.

And in “The Essence of Seeing: Surrealism, Relativity, and Quantum Mechanics,” Jessica Reed explore the long and inextricable relationship between science and art.

Lastly, Nightingale is open for pitches and we’d love to hear from you. Send us your ideas at pitchnightingale@gmail.com and get started writing for us right away!