Finding the Pattern.

I love graphs, plots and charts. There is something almost magical about their ability to ask a question, analyze it and make a point all in one place.

I think that's why I love to visualize data. I love how powerful the perfect graph can be by allowing you to quickly and deeply grasp a concept (especially for large data sets) by telling a story and using the eye to draw your attention to the right places. Our minds are great at seeing trends and patterns in data when it is visualized.

The art of data visualization lies in a) knowing what pattern or trend you're trying to uncover and b) finding the right kind of chart. And then let the story tell itself.

But data won't just reveal itself. You have to be creative. You have to think of the possible relationships first and then see if they actually exist. That is the key.