Data Visualization: Understanding
How To Visualize Your Data
Mr. SABINO R. ESTROSO III
Faculty, CMBfA
DRIVER FOR DATA
VISUALIZATION
The need to analyze BIG DATA which comprises
Facts
Figures
Words
Percentages
Measurements
Observations
In order for you to make it useful, we need to find creative ways to
make it user friendly for our audience. This is where the art of data
visualization comes in!
WHAT IS DATA VISUALIZATION?
• Data visualization is the secret art of turning data into
visual graphics that people can understand (graphs, charts,
info graphics, etc.).
• And the reason why it is so important is it allows the
human eye to see trends and patterns that it otherwise
can’t see or make out.
“The eye and the visual cortex of the brain form a massively
parallel processor that provides the highest-bandwidth
channel into human cognitive centers.”
Statistics highlighting the importance of data
visualization over text when presenting
information:
90% of the information transmitted to the brain is visual
Humans process images 60,000 times faster than text
70% of our sensory receptors are in our eyes
65% of people are visual learners
In short, visual data is easier to remember than words.
Why is Data Visualization Important?
Data visualization is your map
to understanding information
and gives you clear directions
on where to go next.
DATA VISUALIZATION
BENEFITS:
A. AMPLIFIES YOUR MESSAGE
Your message is amplified in a few different ways.
First of all, by taking the time to create data
visualizations, you show your audience that you’ve
done your homework. That alone gives a sense of
credibility to your content.
Without visualizations, you run the risk of your
audience not understanding what you are trying to
present. Your data might even be received as
meaningless and your entire message lost.
B. GIVES MEANING TO YOUR DATA
Visualizations communicate valuable insights by
creating visual representations of your data.
For example, an Excel spreadsheet showing
that Microsoft’s sales revenue has almost
doubled between 2011 and 2018 isn’t nearly as
effective as graphic that data in a simple
column with some formatting.
C. SAVES TIME
Instead of spending the time trying to
figure out what the facts and figures mean,
your audience members can ENGAGE with
the meaning. A visual representation
allows you to analyze huge amounts of info
in the blink of an eye. As we know, the
human eye can recognize and process
visual information much faster than text..
D. MAKES FOR BETTER DECISION MAKING
Assuming your data visualizations
contain correct data and are done
properly, you’ll not only be able to
make decisions faster, but they
will be based on data that you fully
comprehend.
E. ITS MORE SHAREABLE AND DIGESTIBLE
One of the best things about data
visualization is that they are accessible
and easier to share across departments,
with colleagues, your boss, or with a large
audience. They can be inserted in your
PowerPoint presentation, printed for
seminar handouts, or even posted and
shared on social media.
DATA VISUALIZATION
EXAMPLES
Bar Chart Example
• Bar charts are one of the most popular data visualizations and most
commonly used for comparing items over a horizontal time frame,
moving left to right.
• These specific data visualizations usually work best with less than 15 data points. If you
have more than 15 data points, I recommend using a line chart instead.
• You will see this type of data frequently used for showing sales figures over a specific
time period, with the years running along the x-axis and the unit running along the Y
axis, as you can see in the example above showing Apple’s Revenue from 2014 to 2018.
Column Chart Example
Similar to the bar chart, the column chart is used to
compare multiple values outside of a horizontal based time
frame.
This works well for survey data, responses or any other
non-date based category. For this type of data visualization
you will see the category running up and down
You can also use two different column charts to show how
a category has changed over a specific time period.
Pie Chart and Doughnut Chart Examples
Another familiar visualization technique is the humble doughnut chart (one step
better than a pie chart).
The key to making your doughnut charts or pie charts clearer, is to break down
your data into two pieces of data to highlight the point you want to make.
For example, if you point is that 85% of survey respondents are using 4 or 5
programs, combine those pieces together and highlight it again the other data as
Timeline Example
A timeline is a great data visualization
technique when you wish to show data in
a chronological order and highlighting
those important points in time.
Venn Diagram Example
The Venn Diagram is a great technique for comparing and contrasting
ideas and
concepts, especially when showing an overlapping piece is important.
For example, in the simple Venn diagram above, your point could be
that for a successful launch, you need strategy, execution and
Gantt Chart Example
Gantt Charts are particularly useful for project managers as a visualization
technique to show when different phases of a project are starting and
stopping over a specific timeline.
Below is an example of a Gantt chart (with a timeline) build entirely using
PowerPoint shapes
Gantt charts like this allow you to organize tasks, team members, timing,
Line Chart Example
Line charts are great when you have lots of data points (more than
15) and you are simply trying to reveal the trend, or show progress
over time.
They can also be useful for showing multiple categories of
Infographic Example
Infographics are the business buzzword of the moment. Infographics are a great way to
deliver facts and figures in a narrative format which is both attractive and easy to read.
They are particularly useful to explain case studies or to summarize complex reports.
You can create your own infographic simply by adding icons, graphics, charts, and
formatting your numbers in interesting ways.
The goal of an infographic like this is to break down your data points into something visual
Dashboard Data Visualization Example
A dashboard is a data visualization that brings multiple pieces of data (charts, graphics,
etc.) onto a single slide. That way you can show the overall health of a situation instead
of just individual pieces. Or as explained by Smart Data Collective’s Keyan Keihani.
To create a dashboard, simply create individual graphics of the relevant data points you
need to see the overall health or performance of your topic.
For example, your dashboard could be as simple as 3 column charts showing annual
sales, annual expenses and annual net income as shown below.
END OF PRESENTATION –
QUESTIONS?
DATA VISUALIZATION TIPS
• Don’t forget to be specific in your titles
• Highlight your main points clearly
• Simplify your data points
