I wanted to capture the difference in my visualisations, showing the pre- and then post- feedback in one place. This was to allow me to more easily see the differences and help me reflect on my learnings.
The format below is that for each of the three data stories I will show the original visualisation, then the feedback and finally the adjusted chart incorporating the suggestions.
At a glance I can see the improvement those suggestions have made in comprehension and legibility. The biggest improvement has been in bigger font sizes and changing the vertical orientation to horizontal. I thought it would take up too much screen real-estate, but as you will see, it really doesn’t.
DVN Data Story 01 – Why Education Matters
Similar to the quick feedback as a result of your presentation. Some possible way to improve the chart:
-Un-rotate the title of the vertical axis.
-All fonts larger…some quite tiny.
-Did you try making the background white? I wonder if it gets clearer…maybe white wouldn’t be the colour for the middle values anymore…
-What is the horizontal line? average? could you clearly indicate that?
-Maybe you can add some text in the graph or change the title indicating what is the message of this graph (see comment in your third post for an example).
Great topic and easy to follow since the beginning. Like Roberto says maybe changing the background colour for the chart could improve the contrast between the data points. Also It will be good idea if you present specific sections form the chart to focus the reader’s attention and connect with your argument.
Some more feedback –
Did you see this story in the news the other day. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-17/spelling-mistake-spotted-in-adelaide-road-sign/8534078
I thought the story a powerful one. Id love to see a legend on your graph just so I can understand and verify it immediately in one glance that red is bad. Is the larger the dot the more students in schools? I read it referenced in your article but an annotation or simple legend would help. Ta.
I think it makes it better
DVN Data Story 02 – Is NSW Becoming More Tolerant
Nice story Rory, can you make the text larger? There is a legend added in the first figure that I couldn’t read.
The text in the x axis is nice and simple. Are the data-points really grouped in pairs of years? that’s a bit confusing.
Titles could be more prescriptive too rather than descriptive (see comment in your third post (align them to the left).
Another thing for this case it would be good if you add the source of the data underneath each graph because in one disability discrimination is going down and in the second is going slightly up. This is now understood from the text but not from the graphs alone.
DVN Data Story 03 – Do Speeding Tickets Work The Same For Everyone
-Better put the title above the chart. It can also be rewritten so it is more descriptive of the insight…maybe something like “he poorest in Sydney get the most speeding tickets”
-What is the meaning of the red colour? the poorest areas in sydney? Why two different tones of red? this needs to be made more explicit.
Hi Rory, great post and good story. Maybe for the next analysis you can check for data sets in other parts of Australia to enrich the narrative with more context. Great use of charts and color contrast.
I also created another graphic to show this better. (I really like this one)
Image Credit: Andrew Bartram
