Assignment 1:
a)
This is an interactive line chart representing the evolution of the number of operational nuclear reactors worldwide from 1954 to 2023. I chose this type of line chart because it provides a simplified and clear understanding of the evolution of the data over several decades. I choose the color yellow as it is often associated with warnings for nuclear waste.
b)
I chose this column chart because it clearly defined the ranking of the countries, I choose the colour yellow because it is often associated with nuclear waste.
c) Answer the following questions.
- Have you followed the checklist for visualizations (every step)?
- I have and I found it very useful, as it made the choice of chart easier to understand and then justify.
- Colours: How easy or difficult is changing colours using the tool?
- I could change the colors easily but only for the line and the columns.
- Text/Labels: How easy or difficult is it to work with text and labels in the tool?
- I found it very easy to add the annotations and comments when needed, I thought it was clear and it helped me explain the charts in more detail to make them an easier read.
- Flexibility: How flexible are the tools? Can you make the changes you need?
- Datawrapper is flexible enough but the data needs to be cleaned carefully, and the options of design are not the same for every chart options which can be a bit restricting.
- Accessibility: What are the different accessibility options provided by the tools?
- In terms of visualization, Datawrapper has a great variety of tools. The chart type option allowed me to choose which type of chart was the best to transpose the data, the refine option was good but was unavailable when I needed to use it for a column chart so I had limited options when it came to the colors, and thickness of the columns. The annotation tool was really helpful to present the chart and make it more accessible for everyone, detailing units of measure, and even being able to add an alternative description for screen readers. Finally, when it comes to publishing and sharing the chart, datawrapper offers several options that make that chart easy to share and transpose on different platforms.
- Smartphone: How do the charts appear on your smartphone? Have you faced any issues while accessing them?
- I could see and interact with the charts well both on my smartphone and on my laptop.
Assignment 2
a)
I chose this line chart detailing the value to give a more literal overview of the data and for the chart to be understandable if it couldn't be interactive. I chose the color red as it often signifies danger, which is usually associated with nuclear energy.
b)
I chose this format for a column chart because it was the clearest format for the reader. Simplistic yet still detailed and allowed me to clarify the units of measure and the data directly on the chart without over cluttering it with information. I chose this color because a warmer color and read, often signifies danger in a lot of culture, which is often associated with nuclear energy.
c) Answer these questions:
- Have you followed the checklist for visualizations (every step)?
- Yes.
- Colours: How easy or difficult is changing colours using the tool?
- I found it easier to change colours in Flourish, we had more options to select which colour spectrum to use for the entire chart including annotations, raher than just the line or columns.
- Text/Labels: How easy or difficult is it to work with text and labels in the tool?
- There are different categories for different annotation, which I found confusing at first, but in the long run, I think it gave me a better understanding of the use for each anotation and more attention to detail.
- Flexibility: How flexible are the tools? Can you make the changes you need?
- Flourish is a very flexible tool, there are a lot of options to run through in terms of design and layout, as well as more choice in charts.
- Accessibility: What are the different accessibility options provided by the tools?
- In terms of visualization and chart design, Flourish has a great variety of tools. Beyond the options for chart type, I had access to more detailed options in terms of backgournd, colours, how to transpose the values best, and being able to annotate the chart clearly. Finally, when it comes to publishing and sharing the chart, flourish offers a bit more options in terms of sharing, especially taking into account social media use.
- Smartphone: How do the charts appear on your smartphone? Have you faced any issues while accessing them?
- I had no issues interacting and see the charts when I viewed this post on smartphone, though I would say, I might have not added the values directly on the line chart as it does look slightly cluttered when viewed on a smartphone.
Assignment 3: Comparaison
- In what context do you think Datawrapper is the best tool, and why? When would you not use it?
- I think Datawrapper is the best tool when making simple charts with a few variables, and is the best tool for beginners who are not used to creating visualizations of data.
- What are the main benefits of using Datawrapper?
- Datawrapper is very intuitive, one can create a chart easily simply by following the 4 steps of the chart design and I does not overwhelm its user with too many options.
- In what context do you think Flourish is the best tool, and why? When would you not use it?
- I think Flourish is the best tool to work with more complex data and visualizations. I would use it if I had to create a more aesthetically appealing design to echo an argument in an article, rather than simply visualizing data. Even though Flourish has more options and more detailed tools than Datawrapper, I found this can become quickly overwhelming when creating the chart. However, as I was following the checklist to create the chart properly, I found that I did have more options to add to the line chart than I did when I was working in Datawrapper and I provided a more detailed end product.
- What are the main benefits of using Flourish?
- Flourish has a lot of design options and allows the user to choose and modify the chart design more easliy and explain the graph in more detail. However, I would not advise it for anyone who doesn't have prior experience with visualization, for the later, I would advise to start with Datawrapper.