1. Understand the data source

Make sure you understand the data you are working with. This is a crucial first step in understanding the data. You need to have an understanding of the big picture: why is this data being collected? What value does the company place on this data? Who are the users? How can the data be maximized? A deep understanding of these questions provides an important foundation for creating visualizations that are both meaningful and human.

2. Define the story you want to tell

A good data visualization is more than just a pretty picture; it tells a story that anyone can understand. So it's vital that you first need to be clear about the story you want to tell, and then use the data as a way to embellish the story.

For example, we recently helped a Swedish mobile operator redesign its monthly cell phone bill, which was often confusing for subscribers, to make it user-centric and easy to use. The company wanted to create a more efficient and easy-to-use bill, rather than continue to present users with an incomprehensible string of numbers.

3. The Rule of Simplicity

Data visualization is about informing users, not overloading them with unwanted information. As a designer, your role is to focus on simplicity, taking complex or fragmented information and making it practical, easy to understand, meaningful, and more human. Remember, the simpler it is, the more users will understand it.