What Building My First Dashboard Taught Me About Data Storytelling
Why Clarity Beats Complexity in Data Stories
Have you ever created something that looked impressive but didn’t really communicate anything meaningful? When I first tried to understand my dataset one Saturday, building a dashboard seemed like a logical next step in my data science journey. After watching many YouTube tutorials, I thought I knew what a good dashboard should look like—clean layout with a few filters on the side.
Initial Attempt and Realization
I designed the structure and laid out dashboard components, but once assembled, something felt wrong. I stepped back and viewed it from different angles, trying to grasp the story it was telling. Despite being decent for a first try, it felt like multiple people talking over each other.
I had squeezed in different chart types—bar charts next to pie charts next to line graphs—all fighting for attention on one screen. Each chart had something interesting to say, just not in a way that added up to a clear point.
A Moment of Doubt
That evening, staring at the screen with the blue glow reflecting off my coffee mug, I felt disheartened. If the dashboard couldn’t connect with me, how could I expect it to connect with anyone else?
Effective data storytelling requires clarity that allows the audience to understand the story, rather than being overwhelmed by complexity.
Author’s summary: Building my first dashboard taught me that clear, focused storytelling is crucial in data visualization to truly engage and inform users.