Regular issues & considerations
Multi device - A print based visualisation may be limited by its lack of interactivity, however it does not have to deal with the issues of multi-device display, where a chart designed for the desktop becomes unreadable on a mobile phone (for example a world map is with country rankings is too small to used on mobile unless you zoom in/out etc) Here we need to think about how visualised should vary across platforms and we have to decide where we make comprises as sometimes a simple table might be more efficient, even if it is not visually as exciting
Comparative data - We are often asked to create interactive charting views which allow users a wide range of comparative views, however the reality is that often different indicators or dimensions are un-comparable as units such as currency vs weight may not make combative sense, sales can vary dramatically or that collection methods and assumptions make it dangerous to compare. Here a ballance needs to be struck between predetermining the views vs allowing users control whilst potentially over complicating the the users experience.
Infographics - Infographics are a particularly interesting and effective extension of data visualisations, however infographics are generally more than a pretty chart, telling a story or expressing an editorial representation of the data. A common struggle in creating infographics is the idea that a data set can be transformed into an infographic without taking time to establish the narrative and editorial slant, which clients can (understandably) feel uncomfortable about.
Stunning visualisations - Clients often reference amazingly visualisations as examples of what they want, however the data may not actually make sense in these more visually impressive formats, and sometimes a simple pie or bar chart is the most understandable and accessible representation of the data. Whilst we all want to impress, it is essential to prioritise the viewers understanding of the data…. Sometimes simple is best.
We have developed considerable experience as an agency helping clients transform their data into engaging data visualized within both the social & economic development and financial services sectors. Whether it be Chart.js, Highcharts, Google charts, D3, Tableau or a highly optimised bits of custom code, rest assured we have both the understanding and technical tools to create insightful and visually beautiful data visualisations.