How do you visually validate your hypothesis with storytelling?

1 Why use visual validation?

Visual validation helps you to check the validity and relevance of your hypotheses in a clear and engaging way. By using visual elements such as charts, graphs, maps, and icons, you can highlight the key patterns, trends, and relationships in your data that relate to your hypotheses. Visual validation also helps you to communicate your findings and recommendations to your audience, whether they are stakeholders, clients, or peers. By telling a compelling story with your data, you can persuade them to take action, support your decisions, or explore further possibilities.

2 How to create a visual story?

To create a visual story that validates your hypotheses, you need to follow a few steps. First, you need to define your hypotheses and the data sources that you will use to test them. A hypothesis is a tentative explanation or prediction that you want to verify or falsify with data. For example, you might have a hypothesis that customer satisfaction is higher for a certain product or service. Second, you need to choose the best visual tools and methods to display your data and show how it supports or refutes your hypotheses. You might use a bar chart, a scatter plot, a heat map, or a dashboard, depending on the type and complexity of your data. Third, you need to add context and narration to your visual story, so that your audience can understand the meaning and implications of your data. You might use labels, captions, annotations, titles, and summaries to explain what your data shows and why it matters.

3 How to present your visual story?

To present your visual story effectively, you need to consider your audience and your purpose. You need to tailor your visual story to suit their needs, expectations, and interests. You also need to align your visual story with your goal, whether it is to inform, persuade, or inspire your audience. To do this, you need to follow some best practices. First, you need to plan and structure your visual story, so that it has a clear beginning, middle, and end. You might use a storyboard or an outline to organize your main points and data. Second, you need to design and refine your visual story, so that it is visually appealing, consistent, and accurate. You might use colors, fonts, layouts, and formats that match your brand, theme, and message. Third, you need to deliver and engage your visual story, so that it captures and maintains your audience's attention and interest. You might use verbal and non-verbal cues, questions, feedback, and interactivity to create a dialogue with your audience.

Visual validation is a valuable skill that can help you to test and communicate your hypotheses with data. By creating and presenting visual stories that show how your data supports or contradicts your assumptions, questions, and goals, you can enhance your analytical skills and deliver impactful insights.