Can we come up with 100 visualizations from one simple
dataset?
As an information design agency working with data
visualization every day, we challenged ourselves to
accomplish this using insightful and visually appealing
visualizations.
We wanted to show the diversity and complexity of data
visualization and how we can tell different stories using
limited visual properties and assets.
Simple yet functional
For the challenge we chose a very simple dataset –
although complex enough for interpretation. The dataset
includes multiple statistical aspects such as comparison,
development, distribution, etc. The dataset compares the
numbers of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Scandinavia in
2004 and 2022.
From the dataset we deduced the total, average,
perceptual change and perceptual distribution, which gave
more possibilities for approaching the dataset from
different perspectives. The story could be on the
development of total Scandinavian national heritages or
focus could be that Sweden has significantly more than
the rest both then and now. Or the fact that in a few years
Denmark surpassed Norway.
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#31
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A semicircular donut chart showing the distribution of sites in 2004 and 2022.
Furthermore, the total numbers for Scandinavia are visualized by the size of the
half donuts.
STORIES
Sweden stayed the country with the most sites
Sweden used to have over half of all sites and now has under half
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#32
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An alternative bar chart integrated into triangles. The corners serve as the
starting point for the individual countries, and the dots as the scale.
STORIES
Sweden stayed the country with the most sites
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#33
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This sorted bar chart approaches the data points independently. Instead of
focusing on the development, all data points are sorted from least to most.
STORIES
Sweden stayed the country with the most sites
Denmark surpassed Norway in number of sites
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#34
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An alternative to the normal bar chart, as the triangles are scaled in height and
not by area. This approach gives a slightly distorted perception as the area
doesn’t represent the data and higher numbers will appear bigger than they are
and vice versa.
STORIES
Sweden stayed the country with the most sites
Denmark gained the most new sites and Sweden the fewest
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#35
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Table with donut charts. A full donut represents the maximum value of World
Heritage sites (15). All data points are represented by a large number and the
data visualization is kind of secondary.
STORIES
Sweden stayed the country with the most sites
Denmark gained the most new sites and Sweden the fewest
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#36
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Bar charts are linked visually to highlight the development from 2004 to 2022.
The development in percentage is included as this is the main story of this
visualization.
STORIES
Sweden stayed the country with the most sites
Denmark gained the most new sites and Sweden the fewest
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#37
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An alternative approach to a table. Each data point written in the dot has what
appears to be shadows at a 45 degree angle.
STORIES
Sweden stayed the country with the most sites
Denmark gained the most new sites and Sweden the fewest
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#38
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The data visualized as a polar area chart (also called a Coxcomb chart). Each
sector represents a country and the years are represented by how far each
sector extends from the center of the circle.
STORIES
Sweden stayed the country with the most sites
Denmark gained the most new sites and Sweden the fewest
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#39
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A 3D bar chart, similar to a typical 3D bar chart you can create with excel or
many other tools. The disadvantage with a two row 3D bar chart is that it can
be difficult to read the heights correctly. That’s why the bars have been marked
with slices for every 5 World Heritage sites.
STORIES
Sweden stayed the country with the most sites
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#40
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Staircase steps represent the number of World Heritage sites. This visualization
focus is on the development from 2004 to 2022 in absolute numbers. This
visualization clearly demonstrates how Denmark surpasses Norway and the fact
that Sweden is far ahead in both 2004 and 2022.
STORIES
Sweden stayed the country with the most sites
Denmark gained the most new sites and Sweden the fewest
Denmark surpassed Norway in number of sites