Checklist – visualizations
Ensure that each visualization includes and accurately reflects the following elements:
+ The selected graph is the best option for representing this data
+ All numbers double-checked
+ Spell check
+ Headline/title
+ Correct units of measurement
+ Description of what the x- and y-axis represent
+ Y-axis starts at 0 (If not: Is it clearly shown? Does the editor agree?)
+ Conscious choice of colours (explained on request)
+ Source
+ Instructions for use (if the graph is interactive)
+ Context or explanation (if necessary)
+ Byline
+ Accessibility (contrast, caption for screen readers, attached table etc)
(explained on request)
+ Understandable for someone who sees the visualization for the first time
(show it to someone outside the newsroom)
+ The visualization checked on a mobile device
Datawrapper
I used a fill under the line to make the graph more expressive. Here and further, the green colour was chosen as neutral because I don't have the context to lead the reader's attention to something specific with the colour. I highlighted the peak point to specify that the number of reactors in operation is now lower than several years ago. I also highlighted the range of fluctuations in the fraction of reactors in operation over the past 40 years to show the stabilization in the development of nuclear power.
I visualized the Central and Eastern European region in the context of nuclear energy. The chart shows how much energy each country generates. The chart conveys the difference in capacity, so additional colours for highlighting are not needed, and I also did not focus on a single country.
- Have you followed the checklist for visualizations (every step)? - Yes
- Colours: How easy or difficult is changing colours using the tool? - Easy
- Text/Labels: How easy or difficult is it to work with text and labels in the tool? - Easy
- Flexibility: How flexible are the tools? Can you make the changes you need? - It is not as flexible as Flourish, but good enough for simple graphs and charts.
- Accessibility: What are the different accessibility options provided by the tools? - Check an appearance on different devices, colour check, and textual representation of the visualization for screen readers.
- Smartphone: How do the charts appear on your smartphone? Have you faced any issues while accessing them? - It looks a bit tight but readable.
Flourish
I used the same logic as when creating a line graph in Datawrapper. I couldn't find a way to fill the space under the line with colour, therefore I left it as is. Likewise, I didn't use highlighting because it was difficult to implement in this tool.
I followed the same logic as using Datawrapper, the outcome was very similar.
- Have you followed the checklist for visualizations (every step)? - Yes, but not following the precise order of steps
- Colours: How easy or difficult is changing colours using the tool? - Rather more complicated
- Text/Labels: How easy or difficult is it to work with text and labels in the tool? - Manageable
- Flexibility: How flexible are the tools? Can you make the changes you need? - It is flexible and therefore more complex.
- Accessibility: What are the different accessibility options provided by the tools? - Check for different devices, and textual representation of the visualization for screen readers.
- Smartphone: How do the charts appear on your smartphone? Have you faced any issues while accessing them? - It looks readable.
Comparison
- In what context do you think Datawrapper is the best tool, and why? When would you not use it? -This is a fairly versatile tool for a wide range of visualizations. It's perfect for quick data visualizations, as many features are standardized and simplified. I also appreciate the ability to check the visibility of colours. And I would use Datawrapper if I needed to add sharing buttons, so users can publish a visualisation on Social Media. I wouldn't use Datawrapper if I needed to create animation or complex visualization.
- What are the main benefits of using Datawrapper? - If I needed to quickly find the most suitable visualization, I would use Datawrapper. So simplicity the main benefits are simplicity of usage and speed of creation.
- In what context do you think Flourish is the best tool, and why? When would you not use it? - The platform has a lot of options for customizing charts. Whether you need to add fancy animations or change the style of text or visual presentation, Flourish gives you plenty of options to do so. I wouldn't use Flourish if I didn't have much time to create a visualization because it takes time and effort to check the data following the checklist steps.
- What are the main benefits of using Flourish? - Plenty of tools for adjusting the visualization towards your unique needs.
- Which of the tools do you personally prefer so far? - Datawrapper seems to be the easy-way-out tool in many cases, that's why I prefer it. However, I believe Flourish might be the best option for complex datasets.