In the ever-evolving world of data visualization, creating clear, engaging, and impactful charts is both an art and a science. To gain deeper insights into what makes a great visualization, we sat down with Gabriele Ballner, an expert chart creator at the German Economic Institute.
With years of experience transforming complex economic data into compelling visual stories, Gabriele shared valuable perspectives on the challenges, strategies, and best practices in the field. She also emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogue with her team, highlighting how collaboration plays a crucial role in refining visualizations, ensuring accuracy, and making data more accessible to a broader audience. From choosing the right visualization techniques to balancing aesthetics with clarity, this interview dives into the nuances of effective data storytelling.
The challenge
What challenges were you facing prior to using interactive data visualizations?
Before adopting interactive data visualizations, we faced a significant challenge in effectively communicating complex data on our website. We needed a solution that would allow us to present scientific data, research findings, and statistical insights in an engaging and accessible way. Our primary requirement was a tool that could generate dynamic and interactive graphics—moving beyond static charts to create visual storytelling elements that would captivate our audience.
Additionally, we wanted a solution that seamlessly integrated into our homepage, ensuring that visitors could easily interpret the information at a glance. Without such a tool, we risked losing engagement, as static visuals often failed to effectively convey the depth and nuances of our data.
How do you use data visualizations?
We leverage data visualizations primarily to display scientifically structured diagrams within articles on our website. These charts and graphs serve as a bridge between raw data and reader comprehension, making complex scientific topics more digestible.
For example, when publishing research findings, we use interactive charts to illustrate trends, comparisons, and patterns that would otherwise be difficult to grasp through text alone. Our goal is to create a more immersive reading experience, allowing users to explore the data in a way that static images simply cannot provide.
When do you consider a data visualization a success?
For us, a data visualization is successful when it meets two key criteria. First, it must satisfy our internal team of scientists and researchers, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and relevance. If our experts feel the visualization effectively represents the data, that’s a crucial benchmark of success.
Second, it should resonate with our audience—especially journalists, analysts, and the general public—by making complex information easier to understand. A successful visualization is one that sparks engagement, facilitates discussion, and encourages exploration of the data beyond just the initial glance.
The solution
Why everviz?
We chose everviz because it provides a powerful yet user-friendly platform for creating interactive charts and maps. Unlike traditional static visuals, everviz enables us to build engaging, dynamic representations of our data, allowing users to interact with the content in a meaningful way.
Its ability to produce high-quality, customizable graphics makes it an invaluable tool for our work. Whether it’s creating animated charts to illustrate trends over time or detailed geographic maps to show regional variations, everviz offers the flexibility we need to bring our data to life.
How do you handle chart branding?
Branding plays a crucial role in how we present our data. With everviz, we can ensure that our charts maintain a consistent visual identity that aligns with our website’s aesthetics and overall communication strategy.
For example, we can customize colors, fonts, and design elements to match our brand guidelines, making the visualizations not only informative but also visually cohesive. This is particularly beneficial for journalists and other content creators who rely on our charts—providing them with high-quality visuals that can be easily integrated into their own work while maintaining our brand’s integrity.
How was the experience creating accessible data visualizations?
At first, there was a bit of a learning curve—especially since the platform operates in English, which required some adjustment for our team. However, once we became familiar with the interface and the available customization options, the process became much smoother.
Now, creating accessible data visualizations has become second nature. We particularly appreciate the platform’s commitment to accessibility features, ensuring that our visualizations are usable by a wide audience, including those with disabilities. Being able to provide data in a way that is both engaging and accessible is a major win for us.
The results
What have been the results?
Overall, we are extremely pleased with the results we’ve achieved using everviz. Our website now features a diverse range of interactive charts and maps that enhance the way we present information.
While there have been occasional challenges—particularly with more complex visualizations like country maps—the benefits far outweigh any difficulties. The platform has significantly improved our ability to communicate data-driven insights in a way that is both visually appealing and easy to understand.
Has the goal been achieved?
Absolutely. The success is evident in the sheer number of charts we have created and published using everviz. Not only has it streamlined our workflow, but it has also elevated the quality of our data storytelling, making our research more accessible to a broader audience.
How have people reacted?
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Colleagues, journalists, and website visitors have all praised the clarity and interactivity of our new visualizations. Many have noted that the ability to explore data dynamically—rather than just viewing a static image—has significantly improved their understanding of complex topics.
What tips do you have for other chart designers?
- Keep experimenting: Data visualization is both an art and a science. Don’t be afraid to try different styles, formats, and color schemes to find what works best for your data.
- Ask for help: If something isn’t working as expected, reach out to the support team. They have been incredibly helpful whenever we’ve needed assistance.
- Prioritize clarity: The best visualizations are not necessarily the most complex ones. Focus on making the data as clear and digestible as possible.
- Think about accessibility: Make sure your charts are readable for all users, including those with visual impairments. This means using good contrast, readable fonts, and alternative text where needed.
- Stay consistent with branding: A well-designed chart should not only be informative but also visually aligned with your brand identity. Consistency in design helps build credibility and recognition.
Overall, everviz has been a game-changer for us, allowing us to create engaging, high-quality data visualizations that enhance our storytelling and make scientific information more accessible to everyone.
