2025-04-23 07:46:20
Our current #SWDchallenge has been on my mind. For those who don't know, we pose a different monthly suggestion for community members to build their data visualization and presentation skills. It could be a prompt to try a novel graph type, redesign an existing example, or practice a specific technique like chart animation. This month, data storyteller Simon asked us to consider whether data always needs to be communicated in a graph. Simon shares, "When you have just a number or two, writing the numbers themselves can be much more powerful than burying them in a table or graph and potentially losing the impact of the main number you're looking to share."
This statement came to mind when I reviewed a chart over the weekend. The chart I’m referring to is a bar graph displaying the weekly weight measurements of my dog, Nemo.
Given how sterile this graph appears, you might be surprised to learn that these basic bars elicited a few tears, mostly happy ones. I was so excited about this data that I wanted to share the graph with my friends and family, but I knew the chart wouldn’t have the same impact.
Nemo is a recent addition to our family; we adopted him four months ago. He is a five-year-old mixed breed with a large frame. For reference, he's approximately 25 inches from his shoulders to the base of his tail. By many standards, this classifies him as a large dog. While different breeds vary in weight, you would expect him to weigh at least 50 pounds, based on his frame. As you can see from the bar graph, when Nemo first came home from the shelter, he was 36.2 pounds—severely underweight, with several health issues.
My primary focus over the last few months has been to help him gain weight. I worked closely with his vet to track his weight by bringing him to the office for weekly check-ins. This gave me plenty of data to analyze his progress.
Unfortunately, one of the byproducts of being a data storyteller is that I can’t help but critique charts, whether watching the news or waiting at the vet office. Coming back to the original bar chart, I decided some of the data provided in the pet portal needed a makeover. I removed the border and gridlines. The vertical axis was also deleted, as it was repetitive given the data labels above each bar. Additionally, I made the bars wider so they would be easier to scan across. All of these changes are reflected in the chart below.
This is a simpler graph than the original, but it still doesn’t quite convey the story of Nemo’s recovery. I decided to try a different approach: a line chart.
The line chart has a few advantages over the bar chart. It’s visually lighter with just a single line compared to the nine bars in the original view. This change makes the graph appear more straightforward, even though it contains the same number of data points. Also, there is plenty of extra space around the line, which I filled with annotations. It’s amazing how words can bring data to life!
This got me thinking. If I want to share Nemo’s progress, why do I need a graph? Whether I used bars, lines, annotations, or played with the formatting, the message continued to get lost in the chart. This is a feel-good story about how Nemo, a dog who didn’t have the best start to life, has a second chance. And in a relatively short amount of time, he’s starting to thrive, not just survive.
Taking a cue from Simon’s challenge, I decided to play around with words and images.
This is a view that I know my friends and family will rejoice at! It's strange to think that a simple statement containing a single number and two pictures can provide more insight than an entire data set of detailed measurements. Graphs are powerful tools for communicating information, but they can sometimes overcomplicate things and deprive the reader of emotionally connecting to the data.
Don’t get me wrong, in many cases, a good graph can do wonders to improve a presentation or report. But it’s important to remember that just because you have data, it doesn’t mean you need a graph. Always think about the message and impact you want to have on your audience; choose a visual that will support that. If you want to explore when words might be better than a graph, there is still time to complete this month's challenge in the community: keep it simple (with text).
On a related note, if you enjoy learning via example, get excited for our new book coming this fall: storytelling with data: before and after. We share twenty powerful makeovers—in our traditional before-and-after format—that illustrate practical lessons like how to find the right level of detail, why you shouldn’t tell stories with dashboards, and the core principles that lead to a well-designed slide. Nemo’s makeover didn’t happen in time for the book, but this simple text transformation is one I’m quite proud of!
2025-04-17 04:54:51
"You can write, but you can't edit."
That lyric, from one of my favorite Regina Spektor songs, has been echoing in my mind lately. I’m pretty sure it’s meant as a dig—and honestly, I get it. Editing is hard.
I’m deep in the editing trenches right now, doing the final read-through of our upcoming book, storytelling with data: before & after. This time, I’ve printed the pages out. There’s something different—almost grounding—about reading and correcting by hand. You turn each page. You circle with pen. You stick little notes to flag every tiny change. The process demands focus. It’s tactile. It’s slow. It’s deliberate.
And it’s exhausting.
It takes a ton of energy to go through material you’ve seen so many times with fresh eyes—to keep spotting opportunities for improvement and issues that somehow slipped through earlier rounds. But I fully believe that this painstaking attention to detail, both in the words and the visuals, is what transforms a good product into a great one.
In a way, the process mirrors what we teach. A meta-lesson in before & after is just this: editing is essential. We help our clients look at their graphs, slides, and stories with new eyes. We coach them through iteration, refinement, clarity. It's in the editing that data stories truly come to life.
So while Regina might be right that writing is easier than editing, I’ve learned that embracing the hard parts is what makes the final product shine.
Our new book, storytelling with data: before & after, is coming soon—preorder now if you’d like to be among the first to see the results of all this editing.
2025-04-03 01:00:31
Acronyms are real space savers. Can you imagine having to write out “The United States of America” instead of simply “USA” every time you wanted to refer to it? The labels in our graphs alone would become overwhelming and unwieldy.
In business, though, it seems that acronyms, lingo, and other shorthand creep insidiously into every communication. Invariably, someone in your audience will be unfamiliar with one or more terms that you thought were universally understood.
For instance, check out the performance scorecard below. Without any additional context, imagine how it would feel to be in a meeting and see this slide on the screen.
To the person who created this slide, every title, graph, and annotation makes perfect sense. A subset of the audience will understand it as well, though it may require a bit of effort. The remainder of the audience will likely feel like you do right now: overwhelmed, confused, or even annoyed at being asked to do so much cognitive work.
Without counting, how many different acronyms or abbreviations do you think there are in that scorecard? Ten? Fifteen? More?
The answer is 30. Thirty different acronyms on a single slide! Even accounting for some commonly used ones like USB or YTD, there are still two dozen that remain. Some of those are out-and-out misleading, to boot. The scorecard’s three main columns are entitled PRO, CONS, and REC. Usually, you expect pros and cons to represent opposing sides of an argument, but here, they are just abbreviations for PRObability and CONSequence.
If you’re using an acronym in a communication, spell it out the first time it appears—even if you’re pretty sure everyone in the room knows what it means.
There’s no guarantee that this graph, slide, or presentation won’t end up in front of a different audience later—or that a new employee in the room will be familiar with all the acronyms and lingo. The worst case scenario of being overly clear in text is that everyone will know what you’re talking about.
On the other hand, if you are referring to the same program across multiple slides, you can use the acronym after the first mention. Ultimately, it depends on whether saving space is worth it, especially if future slide or graph titles are longer.
At the end of the day, the goal isn’t to impress with insider language—it’s to make sure your message lands. When we default to clear, accessible terms, we reduce the cognitive load and make it easier for everyone to engage with the content. That’s not just a kindness; it’s a strategic move. So whether you’re building a scorecard, writing a chart title, or drafting a report, pause and ask yourself: Will this be clear to someone seeing it for the first time? If the answer’s no, take the extra moment to spell it out. Your future self—and your future readers—will thank you.
If you found this helpful, there’s more where that came from. Our upcoming book, storytelling with data: before and after – practical makeovers for powerful data stories, is packed with real-world examples, step-by-step redesigns, and smart strategies just like this. It’s available now for preorder and will be published this fall—we can’t wait to share it with you!
2025-03-20 19:44:03
When I'm about to lead an in-person workshop, I usually like to get there early and scope out the room. I go through my usual routine: picturing myself talking to everyone, figuring out where I can move without blocking the screen, making sure the clicker works – mentally ticking off these items allows me to feel confident for the upcoming session.
But recently, at a client workshop (you can find out more about our team trainings at https://www.storytellingwithdata.com/team-trainings), the situation was a bit different. Instead of the usual layout with tables or theater seating, it was just a regular boardroom with a big table and a screen at one end. There were a handful of participants joining virtually and the organizers had me sit at the end of the table due to the proximity of the Laptop connector.
Right away, I knew my usual "stand up front" approach wouldn't work. The room felt too small and casual for a four-hour standing presentation, and I'd definitely block the screen for the online attendees. With these factors in mind, I chose to conduct the workshop sitting down.
After an engaging session with an enthusiastic group, I started thinking about the differences between sitting and standing while presenting. Here are three tips I can offer for making a sit-down presentation engaging and successful.
1. Keep the conversation going
We always aim for our workshops to be interactive. In a traditional lecture-room style setup, however, participants might hesitate to share their thoughts or ask questions. But sitting down made it feel more like a natural conversation. The relaxed atmosphere, however, did lead to more interruptions with attendees feeling free to jump in and it took extra effort to keep the agenda on track.
I found myself changing what I had planned to fit the flow of the discussion. Since the real value of a workshop is often the conversation between attendees, it's better to be flexible with the content rather than stick to a rigid agenda. When it comes to delivering an engaging experience for your audience ensure you know your content well enough to be able to seamlessly flex it depending on the situation.
2. Use your words to direct people’s attention
When you're standing, it's easy to point to the slides and make that connection clear. But sitting down meant I had to be more thoughtful about my slides.
For any presentation, whether it's in person or online, keep your slides simple and focused. They should support what you're saying, not just show every detail. With less on the slides, people can scan them easily while listening to you. I was able to indicate verbally to my audience when to look at the slides. In addition, I added pauses, giving my audience time to assess the content before returning their focus to me.
3. Bring energy with your voice, expressions, and posture
Moving with purpose and using gestures are effective ways to help keep people engaged during a presentation. But when you're sitting, you've got to find other ways to do that. To keep my energy levels high, I made sure to stand up during breaks and when people were working independently. I also paid attention to my posture to avoid looking slumped, which can also affect your voice and energy.
Even when you're sitting, your body language still matters. Leaning in to emphasize a point, using your hands (even if it's just a bit), and making eye contact can make a big difference in helping to generate a rapport with your audience.
Looking back, I truly enjoyed the conversational feel of that workshop. It kept me on my toes, and I'd be happy to do it again. Next time, I’d consider standing at appropriate points in the session. Delivering the introductions, more theoretical aspects and presentation examples would all be good opportunities to stand and mix the delivery style up.
It was a good reminder that even with our best-laid plans, things don't always go as expected. It's important to be ready to adapt and to know your content well enough to present it effectively in any situation. That's what makes a presentation truly successful.
2025-03-13 02:41:32
One of the things I love most about storytelling with data is seeing the “aha” moments—when someone recognizes that graphs aren’t just numbers on a page but a visual language that can help us make sense of the world. This realization doesn’t have to wait until adulthood. What if we introduce kids to the power of data early—when curiosity is high and learning is an adventure?
That’s precisely the goal with our new Daphne’s Data Detectives program. Read on to learn more about how we’ve been inspiring the next generation of analysts and storytellers—and how you can help.
Since the release of Daphne Draws Data last fall, I’ve had the amazingly fun opportunity to share the superpower of number and graphs with many young students. We discuss how data can be explored, played with, and used to solve real-world mysteries. I’ve read Daphne Draws Data to hundreds of elementary school children and led students as young as kindergarten through their first graphing exercise.
To see how empowered kids feel after using graphs to answer important questions—like How do you select your next book to read from the school library? or Where is the best place on the playground to make new friends?—is pure magic.
Now that we’ve perfected the approach, it’s time to expand our reach. We are looking for Lead Data Detectives, Chart Champions, Insight Investigators—people like you, who have attended an SWD workshop or read our books; follow the SWD blog, podcast, or YouTube channel; or are an active part of our SWD community—to help us bring this experience to even more kids.
Through this program, passionate individuals will lead 30–45 minute interactive sessions with K–4 students (with a sweet spot at 3rd–4th grade), helping them discover the superpower of numbers and graphs. We will provide you with everything needed to make your job easy and engaging, including:
Copies of Daphne Draws Data for students and their schools/libraries
A ready-to-go lesson plan, interactive slides, and activity guides
Video resources showcasing how I’ve led these sessions before
Stickers and bookmarks (kids love them!)
To help bring this opportunity to more kids, storytelling with data will donate books whenever possible, in particular to schools and organizations without budgets for this type of event. For those receiving donated books, all we ask is that Lead Data Detectives seek sponsorship or other support to offset shipping costs. At this time, SWD can only donate books within the US. (Non-US participants will need to secure books through Amazon, local bookstores, or other retailers.)
We’re looking for individuals who:
Are familiar with SWD lessons: have attended a storytelling with data workshop; read our books; follow the blog, podcast, or YouTube channel; or are an active member of the SWD online community
Are passionate about data storytelling and elementary education
Have access to young learners—through schools, libraries, or community groups in their local area
Are willing to support the program (or seek support from their company) to help cover costs like book purchases and/or shipping
Applications will be reviewed based on enthusiasm, reach, and ability to effectively engage with students. Priority will be given to those who can help offset program costs, allowing us to reach even more young learners.
I’m incredibly excited about the potential of this program. Imagine a future where more kids grow up knowing that graphs aren’t just something they see in textbooks but a tool they can use to understand themselves and the world around them!
If you’re interested in becoming a Lead Data Detective, apply today or read full program details here. I can’t wait to see the impact we can make—together.
2025-03-07 23:00:00
Lately, my workdays have been split between two very different—but equally exciting—worlds. One moment, I’m reading Daphne Draws Data to a room full of 6-to-9-year-olds, helping them create their very first bar charts. The next, I’m deep in edits on a new book for grown-ups, clarifying words and refining data visualizations that will make an impact in the workplace.
Today, I’m thrilled to officially share that the latter is now available for preorder!
storytelling with data: before & after is a book we’ve wanted to write for quite a while. This time, though, you won’t just hear from me—you’ll also get insights from my co-authors, Mike Cisneros and Alex Velez. If you’ve been to one of our workshops, you know how much we love tackling ineffective graphs and underwhelming slides, turning them into clear, compelling visuals. This book captures that same approach, drawing from the countless scenarios we’ve seen with clients over the years to show how small, intentional changes can transform your charts from expected to exceptional.
Packed with real-world makeovers and practical strategies, before & after is designed to help you sharpen your data communication skills and create visuals that truly resonate. Whether you’re distilling a complex dataset, refining a key presentation, or simply looking to level up your charts, this book will equip you with the tools to turn data into engaging visuals that captivate, inform, and drive smarter decisions.
We’ll be sharing sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes insights as we get closer to publication, so stay tuned. But why wait? Preorder now and be the first to see the transformations!