What Building My First Dashboard Taught Me About Data Storytelling
Clarity Over Complexity
When I first set out to interpret my dataset one quiet Saturday, creating a dashboard felt like the logical next step in my data science practice. After hours of YouTube tutorials, I believed I understood what a good one should look like—neat design, clear layout, maybe a few filters for interaction.
With some excitement, I built the framework and positioned the charts. But when the pieces came together, something didn’t quite work. I stepped back, literally, moving around the room to get other perspectives. After a while, I realized my dashboard didn’t tell any real story.
When Design Misses the Point
Technically, it wasn’t bad for a first try. But the experience reminded me of listening to several people talking over each other—overwhelming and fragmented. My screen was crowded with bar charts, pie charts, and line graphs, each compelling on its own, yet collectively confusing.
“Each chart had something interesting to say, just not in a way that added up to a clear point.”
Reflection and Realization
As I sat in front of my glowing monitor that evening, a feeling of disappointment grew. The dashboard looked fine, but it lacked meaning. If I couldn’t feel connected to what I’d built, how could I expect anyone else to?
Author’s Summary
Creating my first dashboard revealed that effective data storytelling relies more on simplicity and narrative focus than on visual complexity or technical polish.