What is the significance of data visualization?
Data visualization represents data in visual media, such as graphics and charts. While it’s nothing new, more and more companies are using visualization to help make sense of their data and drive growth through it. Here’s what you need to know about data visualization and why it matters.
The Difference Between Data Visualization and Data Art
Data art, which includes everything from simple line charts to bar graphs and infographics, shares a similar goal with big data visualization. Both aim to present complex or abstract information clearly and efficiently. The key difference is that data visualizations feature raw numbers. While data art makes creative use of those numbers by including visuals that help us understand what we are seeing.
Some people might think it’s nitpicky to differentiate between these two fields as they both deal with data but keep in mind that most people aren’t mathematicians or experts in a particular field; they want (and need) their information presented understandably. Designers need to consider how viewers will interpret their work.
Will they be able to look at your data art and immediately grasp its meaning? If not, then you should probably try another approach. While many graphics can fall under either umbrella—such as pie charts—the distinction lies in whether there is a strong focus on presentation or interpretation. For example, if you were designing a chart about crime rates over time. You could create either one type of graphic or another depending on your audience’s needs.
If you were creating something for law enforcement officials who regularly deal with crime statistics. You would likely want to stick with more traditional methods like pie charts because it helps them quickly recognize patterns among various crimes across years.
Why do Data Visualizations Work?
A unique property of our brains allows us to absorb information when it’s delivered visually more readily. For example, take a look at two simple charts. One represents a million dollars in cash, and the other represents $1 million in cash: Which one shows you more money? We have all sorts of internal math algorithms (Fibonacci sequences, finger counting, etc.) that allow us to add and subtract numbers in our heads quickly.
However, our brain is really bad at comparing things visually. We don’t know how to do it efficiently (this explains why Google’s Material Design uses color to represent different categories). As humans, we naturally want visual cues that help speed up decision-making. That’s why data visualizations are so compelling.
They make sense to our brains because they speak an intuitive language. Data Visualization Examples: Here are some cool examples of companies using data visualization well: Google Trends: This tool lets you visualize search trends over time for any keyword or topic across specific regions and demographics.
The Benefits of Using Data Visualization
This past summer, Google’s head of visualizations, Martin Krzywinski, created a series of charts that depict a variety of socioeconomic trends. The charts are astounding to look at. For example, he uses concentric circles to represent suicides from 2003 to 2012 in different countries worldwide: The result isn’t just beautiful. It tells us something about ourselves.
The most important aspect of any chart or graphic you make is what you do not put on it. Krzywinski writes in an accompanying post on Google+. It would help if you strived for every chart and graphic you create to say as much as possible with as little as possible.
As our lives are increasingly dominated by text and numbers, we must always ask ourselves: What could be left out? How can I show less? How can I show more? Data visualization is all about asking questions like these and then answering them. And there’s no better way to learn how than doing. So get started!
Who Uses Data Visualization?
The very nature of data visualization means that anyone can benefit from learning how to create one. This skill can make you a more effective communicator. Whether you’re presenting information to investors, working with your team, or explaining what your company does to a friend.
Even if it’s not something you do as part of your job description. There’s something to be said for being able to break down a concept into an easily-digestible visual. Since we spend so much time looking at numbers and graphs each day (sometimes even unconsciously), learning how these elements work helps you understand what those numbers mean. It also gives you a new way to present information that might resonate better with your audience.
How Do I Use Data Visualization in My Workflow?
Data visualizations are extremely important in any field where analyzing large quantities of information is necessary. A successful business will gather and store huge amounts of data about customers, products, sales, spending, and profits (to name a few).
If an executive or manager can’t quickly learn from that information—and make adjustments to respond to what they learn. The business may not be as successful as it could be. Data visualizations help you make sense of complex numbers by presenting them visually rather than in long columns on a spreadsheet. By seeing your company’s numbers graphically. You’re more likely to notice trends and outliers in your sales figures (or any other metric) without trying too hard. Here you will learn about what is data intelligence?
This kind of insight can lead to significant changes for businesses. For example, if you see a sudden drop-off in traffic on your website during lunchtime hours one week.You might decide to offer discounts at local restaurants during those times to increase sales during slower periods. Such decisions can have a significant impact on how much money your business makes over time—and how many people it employs!
So, when you look at data visualizations online or even just when reviewing documents at work. Think about how they were created and ask yourself whether anything was missing from them that would change their meaning. Would different colors have made certain aspects stand out more? Would different symbols have been better for comparing sets of numbers?