May 6, 2026Process · Data Visualization
How I start every data visualization project
Before I open any design tool, I spend time with the data and the question behind it. Here's the process I've developed over the last few years.
Every project starts with a conversation — not with the data, but with the person who owns it.
Step 1: Understand the why
I ask: what decision does this visualization need to support? Who will look at it, and in what context? A chart for a corporate sustainability report reads very differently from one for a daily news newsletter.
Step 2: Explore before designing
I spend time looking at the raw data before touching Illustrator or Figma. What's the range? Are there outliers? What patterns emerge naturally?
Step 3: Sketch on paper
My first drafts are always on paper. Sketching is faster than clicking and it keeps you from falling in love with a layout too early.
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