Talks at Google Ep407 - Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic | Storytelling with Data
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Dec 29, 2023 
Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, author of 'Storytelling with Data', discusses the importance of telling a story with data and offers insights on effective data visualization. They explore the power of storytelling in data communication and emphasize the significance of asking for action rather than simply presenting data. They also discuss the importance of color in data visualization and the value of continuous learning and using different tools for data storytelling.
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Use Color Sparingly To Guide Eyes
- Use color and brief explanatory text to draw attention to the precise element you want viewers to notice first.
- Test by looking away and returning to see where your eyes land to validate focus.
From Report Dumps To Actionable Story
- Cole recounts an analyst who presented raw employee-survey pages that invited a leader to shrug and move on.
- By asking the analyst to tell the story instead, they identified clear improvement areas and drove leader action.
Story Structure Makes Data Memorable
- Stories stick because repetition and a plot with twists and an ending transfer content from short-term to long-term memory.
- A data story needs context (plot), an interesting finding (twist), and a clear call to action (ending) to be memorable.