Data Knowledge

Before creating any visuals, it is important to understand the data you are working with. Knowing your data means being clear about what it contains, why it was collected, and what it represents. This helps you focus on the information that matters most and avoid including unnecessary details.

Start by understanding the purpose of the data. Know what problem it addresses and what questions it answers. For example, if working with loan data, it might help to track loan amounts, repayment success, and overdue loans. Once you understand this, it is easy to decide which parts of the data are important to highlight.

Next, look at how the data is organized. Check what types of information it includes, understand whether the data shows a single point in time or trends over several months. It is also important to check the data for errors or missing values.

Finally, think about what you want to show and why it matters. Understanding your data allows to create clear and meaningful visuals. It ensures that your visuals tell the right story and help your audience quickly understand and act on the information.