In English, there are three verbal moods:
The indicative used to express factual statements or positive beliefs;
The imperative used to express direct commands, requests, and prohibitions; and
The subjunctive used to express hypothetical situations or conditions which are contrary to fact or uncertain.
When we are visualizing data, we often settle into the indicative, the realm of facts. But what if we want to show what might happen if action is not taken or what might have been had action not been taken? In other words, how can we visualize the subjunctive? I’d like to offer up four examples to inspire you. The Flattening The Curve chart shows the impact of COVID mitigation (social distancing, masking, etc.) on the healthcare system and should bring back memories of 2020. The other charts may be new to you.
Source: Our World In Data
Source: Climate Action Tracker
Source: Our World In Data
To see past data tips, click HERE.
Let’s talk about YOUR data!
Got the feeling that you and your colleagues would use your data more effectively if you could see it better? Data Viz for Nonprofits (DVN) can help you get the ball rolling with an interactive data dashboard and beautiful charts, maps, and graphs for your next presentation, report, proposal, or webpage. Through a short-term consultation, we can help you to clarify the questions you want to answer and goals you want to track. DVN then visualizes your data to address those questions and track those goals.
