8 From information to knowledge: Building the visual context
This chapter covers
- Emotions: The foundations of visual context
- Colors, size, and interaction
- Using DALL-E for images
- Strategic placement of textual and visual context
- Implementing an example
Generally, looking at something interesting arouses an emotion, a set of feelings that strike us. Of course, written texts can arouse emotions, and the power of visual elements to generate emotions is likely even greater. So why not exploit emotions to involve the audience more in our data stories? In this chapter, we will review the basic concepts behind visual context in a data story with a focus on emotions. We will describe how to set color, size, and interactivity in a data story. Next, we will deepen the usage of DALL-E for building images. Afterward, we will focus on how to place the context in your chart. Finally, we will focus on a practical case study implementing the described concepts.
8.1 Emotions: The foundations of visual context
I went to the Natural History Museum with my family some time ago. There were many animals, reconstructions of archaeological excavations, some primitive men, and much more. At the end of the visit, the children were so enthusiastic that they talked about nothing else. Again, after a few days, my youngest told me he wanted to build an archaeological excavation in his grandmother’s garden!