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USING DATA VISUALIZATION to support visual data storytelling is a craft, and one that takes practice, expertise, and a good bit of drafting and rewriting. Strong visual narratives that make data easier to understand, according to The Economist, "meld the skills of computer science, statistics, artistic design, and storytelling."
Here are five steps to help you build that perfect data story.
1. Find data that supports your story. The first step in telling a data narrative depends on finding data that supports the story. Part of the revelation of storytelling is akin to the scientific process-asking questions, performing background research, constructing and testing one or many hypotheses, and analyzing results to draw a conclusion.
However, finding data to support a story doesn't necessarily require scientific data. Ultimately, the data chosen to tell a story should support the story it is telling in context, complexity, and depth. In other words, find a story you're interested in telling. Then, make sure you understand your data.
2. Layer information for understanding. Once you have your story in mind and your data...