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Data becomes uninteresting when we're unable to make any sense of it, lost without directions or a purpose, in a mashup of numbers and words, only raw values. Yet, it is this pureness that is beautiful; Conveying facts without distortion, it is an objective representation of life.

Innately data has it own set of stories to tell, though these are not immediately distinguishable, often requiring some amount of effort to sort, and a context provided for them to exist in. The use of statistics & visualization helps this storytelling, by making all these information easily relatable, through the use of graphical elements.

Aesthetics is visualization's main strength, yet, one must be mindful when designing & consuming these representations: integrity of data and the inherent story must still come first. This additional layer of storytelling could be slighted with inconsistancies, or have misleading points added through human bias, making it stray from the initial story. It is important to remember that the function of visualization is secondary, seeking to inform, and it is when these two successfully overlap, that the clear feeling of enlightenment is felt.

 

Probability of death by Flowing Data

Journalism aims to provide objective data that is accurate, and the emphasis on finding solid reports, makes the storytelling and graphics good. The above is a simple line chart, which displays the increasing probability that you'll die within a year, given your age. It is free from fancy graphics or other kinds of chart junk: The data is presented in a clear & concise manner with choice design elements that make the story better. Labels are used inform, and important points are highlighted on the axes, providing context to help us see why this data is interesting. The use of line widths and color help make it easy for readers to understand the story readily. Finally, the story is properly based, with the data's provider listed at the bottom.

The seemingly impossible is possible - Hans Rosling

Ideally, each data set should already have a form best suited for them already, be it a info-graphic, a map, or a timeline. In addition, good narration can be used to provide a compelling story-telling experience and well designed interactive components aid people in their task of looking for data. In 2007, Hans Rosling, a professor of International Health and director of the Gapminder Foundation, gave a talk titled The seemingly impossible is possible. Early on in the show, he used a data plotting applications, the Trendalyzer, which turns complex global trends into lively animations. Financial data of countries appear as colorful bubbles, and dance to a timeline which advances, in relation with Rosling's enthusiastic voice and conviction lends a humanistic element to the data, which brightens as the data float across the grid – toward better national health and wealth. The same Trendalyzer is available on the Gapminder site, which is interactive, with filters for each country, allowing users to toggle the data for comparisons.

Having said this, data visualization can be viewed as a powerful storytelling aid which artists, journalists & programmers can make use of to highlight trends and changes. It's purpose could be to provide an objective report, to evoke emotions, or as a form of entertainment. Yet designers must be careful when shaping data into these aspects, leaving personal views outside of the visualizations. With that, well-designed visualizations have data which show naturally, letting it telling a story that will provoke thought & action for many.