The dilemma
Have you ever sat in front of your computer with the determination to build a viz, but every dataset you download gives you zero inspiration of what to build? This happens to me quite often. I enjoy building and analysing data; in fact, I love it. But sometimes I just cannot get something good out of the data. And it is not because the data has nothing to say, but that the data does not seem to inspire me.
The solution
I find that I am more willing and eager to spend loads of time building visualisations and exploring data when I have a personal interest in the subject matter. And the deeper you explore, the more interesting things you find within the data.
Over the weekend, I spent most of my time diving into a data set on Agriculture exports from Australia. As this is one of my interests (growing up on a cattle farm and completing an MSc in Animal Sciences), I was extremely eager to spend my time exploring and visualizing the data instead of crashing on the couch to watch tv.
The result
I thought I would share this passion of mine and the visualization that came out of it to inspire others to visualise their passions.
You can view the viz I built on animal exports from Australia here.
In conclusion, if you are determined to build a viz but can’t find data that gives you inspiration; go back to what you are passionate about. You are sure to find the inspiration you need to build an interesting viz.
Happy Vizzing!
Author: Charisma Adlem
Charisma has an interesting background in animal science, having completed a Master’s degree (MSc) in Zoology at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. She found her passion for data analytics through her scientific studies. She was delighted to discover that The Data School provides a means to follow her heart and enter a career in data analytics. Charisma is a loving mother of two ferrets and has discovered a talent for abstract and realism painting in her spare time. If Charisma had to choose only one food type to eat for the rest of her life, it would be sushi. Charisma also enjoys outdoor activities including fishing, camping and hiking.