How can you use animation and interactivity to enhance data presentations?

1 Why animate data?

Animation is the process of creating the illusion of motion or change in an object or scene. When applied to data, animation can be a useful tool to show trends, patterns, or changes over time or space, and to highlight important points or comparisons. It can also help to create a narrative or a sequence of events, as well as add interest and excitement to your presentation. However, it's important to remember that animation should always serve a purpose and support your message rather than be used for its own sake or to distract from the data.

2 How to animate data?

There are many tools and software that can help you create animated data presentations, such as PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote, Prezi, or Adobe Animate. Depending on your needs and preferences, you can choose from different types of animation, such as transitions, emphasis, entrance and exit effects, and motion paths. To animate data effectively, you should follow some best practices. Use animation sparingly and selectively - too much animation can be overwhelming for your audience. Additionally, use animation consistently and coherently to ensure it matches your data and message. Finally, use animation to enhance your narration - don't rely on it alone to convey your information.

3 Why make data interactive?

Interactivity is the ability of an object or scene to respond to user input or feedback. When applied to data, interactivity can help engage audiences, customize presentations, provide more details or context, and encourage questions and discussions about your data. It is important to note that interactivity should not be used to complicate or obscure your data; it should always be clear and intuitive for your audience.

4 How to make data interactive?

Using tools and software such as Tableau, Power BI, Google Data Studio, or R Shiny can help you create interactive data presentations. Depending on your goals and audience, you can choose from different types of interactivity, like filters, sliders, buttons, and hover features. To make data interactive effectively, it is important to use interactivity purposefully and strategically. Additionally, make sure the interactivity is user-friendly and relevant to your audience. Lastly, use interactivity to supplement your story and guide your audience through the data while highlighting the key points.

5 Examples of animated and interactive data presentations

Looking for inspiration for your own data presentations? There are plenty of examples of animated and interactive data presentations to explore. For instance, the Gapminder World showcases changes and trends in global development indicators over time and across countries, and you can explore the data by moving the slider, clicking on the bubbles, or selecting the variables. The Global Carbon Atlas is another example that shows the sources and impacts of carbon emissions around the world with animation and interactivity. You can filter the data by year, region, or sector to see how the maps, charts, and graphs change. The New York Times Coronavirus Tracker is an example of using animation and interactivity to show the spread and effects of the pandemic in the US and globally. Plus, you can hover over the maps, charts, and tables to see more details, or click on the buttons to switch between different views.

6 Tips for creating animated and interactive data presentations

To ensure your animated and interactive data presentations are successful, it's important to know your data and audience, plan your design and story, and test and refine your presentation. Understanding what your data means, what your message is, and who your audience is will help you choose the right tools, techniques, and features. Additionally, having a clear and logical structure, layout, and flow for your presentation will help you organize your data, select visuals, and sequence animation and interactivity. Finally, testing for functionality, accuracy, and clarity prior to delivering will help you identify and fix any errors or gaps in the presentation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?