Why Charts Designed For Dashboards Fail In Data Stories
January 13, 2026
Why do clear, well-designed dashboard charts lose impact in presentations? Because dashboards and data stories optimize for different goals. This post introduces four design lenses that explain the tradeoffs and why repurposing charts without rethinking design often falls short.
Measurement Over Metaphor: Rethinking The Conversion Funnel
October 9, 2025
Traditional funnel charts look intuitive but distort reality—hiding drop-offs, misaligning comparisons, and emphasizing what remains over what’s lost. This post examines five challenges in visualizing funnels and introduces the Framed Funnel Chart—a bar-inspired redesign that preserves flow while enhancing accuracy, readability, and comparability.
Data Storytelling 101: A Beginner's Guide To Turning Insights Into Action
June 12, 2025
Think your numbers speak for themselves? Think again. Even the most powerful insights fall flat without the right storytelling approach. This comprehensive guide walks you through the five foundational elements of data storytelling—from understanding your audience to crafting compelling narratives. Whether you're new to data communication or looking to sharpen your skills, you'll learn practical techniques to turn insights into action.
May The Data Be With You: 10 Analytics Lessons From The Empire Strikes Back
May 7, 2025
The Empire Strikes Back offers surprising lessons in analytics—from psychological safety and confirmation bias to the importance of experimentation and action. Using iconic scenes, the article connects Star Wars moments to real-world data challenges, showing how technology, empathy, and human judgment play key roles in effective decision-making. Insight alone isn’t enough—execution, communication, and context are essential.
Five Reasons Executives Hate Business Reports—and How SPARK Fixes Them
April 29, 2025
Struggling to make your business reports resonate with executives? Discover the five common frustrations leaders face—and how the SPARK Reporting Framework can fix them. Learn how to create reports that are stakeholder-focused, purpose-driven, accurate, readable, and action-oriented to drive better decisions and real business impact.
Does Your Organization Have A Balanced Data Diet?
April 9, 2025
The MyDataPlate framework proposes a balanced approach to data communication across four essential categories: Monitor (tracking anomalies in real-time), Report (providing periodic performance summaries), Explore (investigating patterns and causes), and Explain (translating findings into actionable recommendations). Many organizations over-invest in monitoring and reporting while neglecting exploration and explanation, resulting in data-rich but insight-poor environments that fail to drive meaningful business outcomes.
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